RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 45: Rebirthed Vigor
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
Evol tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne, tapping the remote. His green eyes stared at the holoscreen. His investigation has been making progress and to say the least…
He wasn't happy.
He was sure of that they were released. Yet there was no signs of their presence. His scanners were never wrong, which could only mean three things.
1: They left the Planet.
He doubted it due to them devouring many others in the past including their own.
2: Vernage killed them.
He hoped that was the case so he wouldn't need to worry about them interfering with his meal. But he would've sensed her in action too, to which he hasn't since his investigations. Thus it could only mean one thing…
3: They were hiding from him.
They planned to take what was his meal alone, and when he wouldn't notice. He will not let them ruin this! He worked too hard for eons to get to this point. Plus with Black Hole, how could they even stop him when he gained what they could not?
As much as he wanted to get rid of them, they were now insignificant to his goal. He just needed to catch the Saint off guard and kill her, then everything will fall into place.
He just needed the right way to get to her…
A notification popped up, making him groan in dismay. He was in the middle of watching a good show. He tapped the holoscreen, seeing the audio message. He rolled his eyes and tapped it.
"Lord Evol, the Saint and your spawn are in Atlas. I repeat: the saint and your spawn are in Atlas."
Evol stared. Last his spy network checked, Atlas put itself and Mantle in an embargo. That and also where Salem planned to go in a few months from what she begrudgingly told him.
Dozens of atlas ships and operatives at the beck and call to Jimmy cricket.
"Hmm… maybe that place is too peaceful at the moment? I think I might pop by and have some fun…" Evol grinned deviously. He pushed himself off the throne. "Get a dozen Amphibious on standby! I don't care what Salem's pawns are going to do, I am going to make sure I will wring that bitch's neck. If I have to kill her if she is a baby immediately after? So be it."
XXX
As the day was finishing up, everyone was preparing for the mission that would help them further on with the plans of the Amity Satellite. Everyone was given new garbs and gear thanks to Dr Polendina and some help from Lily. Though the Saint didn't make anything, only overseeing the atlesian tech being added to the weapons. There wasn't much to say about that but it was per the deal. They also were given extra stuff, such as personal rooms and even a training room as well for them to hone their skills as well as make sure they were in top form.
With the conversation earlier of accepting Ironwood's request for help, everyone was getting ready for the immediate task at hand.
To Cody, he massaged his knuckles as he fiddled with the bottle. He hasn't forgotten the conversation in the elevator with Lily.
A world where Faust is forgotten and said group won't remember Evol. For all the children who were experimented on, cured from the augmentations that made people see them as monsters or freaks.
Something he had longed for… for 7 years. For Evol to finally and genuinely be gone from their lives sounds like a dream come true. Something he was so happy to hear but… he didn't feel happy.
The only way to ensure Evol's legitimate death… was for Lily to expel the power of her bottle alongside Evol's, leading her existence to be erased from the eruption of both forms of matter, probably forgotten like Evol. At first he thought Lily was being selfish but after a moment of reflection, she was doing the most selfless thing for every soul Evol tainted. He wanted to yell at the cosmos of the universe for this… but Lily was right and she was granting the dreams of those like him affected by Evol's sadistic nature the air of true freedom. A place where the bastard snake can no longer coil his grubby scales on them.
The only thing he hated about this was her sacrifice…. He's tired of losing those he cares about, but he must trust in her and not be selfish himself.
"Cody?"
His thoughts were disrupted and raised his head. His face would have turned red but didn't due to recent events. Yang's new outfit consists primarily of khaki overalls, the gold zipper of which is unzipped just below the breast to reveal a white low-cut cropped tube top. Around the thighs of the overalls is a gold zipper and buckled strap that allows for the pants leg to be detached. The right leg is unzipped but still strapped to the overalls but the lower part is partially folded over. Over top of the coveralls, she wears a baggy, dark brown crop aviator styled jacket with fur trim around the neck and black-and-orange straps along the sleeves. Around her waist is a black-and-orange belt with black-and-yellow folded fabric on the sides, which runs behind her with a pouch attached to it and a golden buckle of her emblem. She wears dark brown knee-high boots with black laces and top trim. For accessories, she has resumed wearing her orange scarf around her neck and her purple scarf around her right leg, like she did with her original battle outfit. She also has a black/brown strap with golden trim and a pouch wrapped around her left thigh.
"W-Woah…" The rider blushed, was amazed by her new outfit change.
"Cool huh?" She mused.
"Y-Yeah… very cool." He nodded in a slight daze.
Yang blinked when he noticed his eyes downcasted. "Everything alright?"
"Erm! Y-Yeah! Just thinking is all…"
"Cody."
"I'm okay Yang… really."
"You know you are a terrible liar." She rested her metal hand on her hip. "What happened? You didn't look okay when you came back from your chat with Lily and right now you still have that gaze regarding it."
Cody bit the inside of his cheek. "Did… you see Blake?"
"Earlier yeah but she looked like she cried but what does that have to do with this conversation?"
"Because Lily…" He sighed heavily. "Lily found a way to permanently kill Evol without him resurrecting."
"I'm guessing from that tone… it's not good?"
"She… has to take Evol into something called a rift in the world by causing-" He saw her confused look. "In terms that don't have a scientific explanation… she has to use the Bottle at full blast, if that is possible, against Evol's black hole inside the rift she makes, to cause the world to be rewritten but with it… it means the probability she can die in the process."
"Just what is she thinking?!" Yang gawked from the information. "I'm gonna knock some sense to her!"
"Yang, wait." He grabbed her shoulder. "I don't like it, really I don't but she tested everything. She tried every method of theorization. She dug into her, Vernage's, memories of her methods. She knew her mother tried many methods but couldn't until that Fullbottle came into the picture. Yes it is the key that can put an end to him and yes it is a huge gamble but think of how many lives she is saving."
"Then… Blake was crying…"
"Most likely because Lily told her too…" Cody nodded. He moved his hand to hers. "This can help everyone be free. Freeing me from everything he did to me. I thought she was selfish… but she wasn't this whole time. Maybe it was why she was pushing Ruby. With her eyes and if Lily is gone…"
Yang's eyes softened. "Lily wanted to make sure Ruby is prepared to have the big responsibility with her silver eyes if she dies with Evol…"
"Ruby doesn't know it yet but it might be soon she may see that. Lily cares about what goes on with her. She cares about the countless lives around her just as Vernage did. For Brothers sake, she was doing what Vernage wanted: to give a real tomorrow for us. No Evol, all the kids having happy lives rather than being called monsters or freaks…" he wiped a few tears. "A big sister who was looking out for her little brother to the very end and make his dream come true."
"Cody…."
"Which is why… we have to have faith… no matter the outcome…" Cody said, trying to hold back his own tears and worries. "She is the super smart girl I know…"
Yang gently rubbed his back to console him, doing what she can to comfort and support him even though they were almost ready to depart. Their scrolls rang as Yang looked at it, showing they needed to depart.
"You should get ready with your new gear too…" Yang reminded him.
"R-Right…" He sniffled, trying to calm down before he made his way to grab and equip his new gear.
"And Cody? Whatever happens, we all are here for you and Blake. Okay?" Her boyfriend nodded.
XXX
The three ships soared across the snowy tundras, the teams aware of the task they were given. They had to take down a Geist that was dwelling in the old mines. Eliminating it while also clearing the place of Grimm to allow the military contingent to settle here for the construction. Cody tugged his new outfit as he felt a brief chill from the cold air seeping into the ship he was in.
This one was slimmer than the others, mostly because his own semblance gives him enough heat. The shirt looked like it was covered in navy blue scales, glimmer from the light and snow. On top of it was a hoodie once more, but it was red and orange with silver accents across the body and rims of the outfit, as if fire and magma was brimming around him. His pants were black as obsidian with lines of yellow across it, making flame designs on it as his boots were now more dragon like, as they had claw-like tips of the toes and were silver and blue in design. Finally around his neck was a unique symbol, one that had the Cross-Z wings on it with a gear underneath and a fin up top and finally a yellow small scarf wrapped around his right forearm.
Regarding his sworn sister? She had said and he quoted 'Why should I change outfits? I am completely comfortable with what I have right now.' Were the words she said. She remained at Atlas for now to conclude her thesis and theorization. Was he alone? Nah. Humorously, with legs tucked in and large claws hugging it was the trusty Cyclops. He found it funny when it had trouble squeezing into a Manta until Lily literally booted him (yes, she called it him and no it wasn't a pun) inside the Manta.
His chuckle died down and lowered his head.
[Emotions indicate you are unwell. Is it about master's fate?]
"That easy to read huh?" It nodded. "I am nervous… of the results in the end. What if that 50% is where she dies? I…"
[To feel in duress is understandable. You have the right to express those emotions]
"What about you? That would mean all four she made. Her precious creations go away…"
The machine stared. [I do not comprehend fear but I can comprehend the safety of master. Master wishes to save the world to freedom. Master wishes to grant peace to all from the serpent. I… do worry about my master. But my program prohibits me from giving up memory banks until I initiate the emergency protocol.]
"Emergency Protocol?"
It turned its head to the metal wall. [Requiring master's acceptance I initiate the protocol that ensures all enemy forces are terminated as my memory data is wiped out upon activation.]
"Does that… make you nervous and afraid? To forget everything you did with sis? You were her first creation."
[I am not programmed for such things like the android unit - codename Penny. My only wish is to make sure my Master's wish is fulfilled. I am her guardian. Her watcher. Her shield. I will uphold my role to protect and fight for her to the very end as before when the serpent stole her body] its digital voice was resolute.
Cody's brows knit but relented. Unlike Penny, Cyclops was a machine made to protect Lily. Like a knight to its queen…
'Did Vernage's tales inspire Lily to make it?' His thoughts were cut off when his earpiece rang. "Cody, here." He responded to the call.
"Does everyone know what to do?" asked Clover.
"Yes sir, we do." That was Ruby.
"Cody, you will be joining Harriet, Marrow and Team RWBY at the entrance."
"Gotcha." The blonde understood.
"It's 'Roger, sir!' get it right, greenhorn!" Harriet responded.
"Roger… 'sir'..." Cody grumbled in response. "… is she still uptight about sis?"
[From all recordings, there is 100% confirmation. Adding to wariness.] Cyclops reported. ["The term 'uptight' is wrong. The correct term is miffed or blind.]
"The feeling of the word is more accurate, than well… an accurate description of the word." Cody corrected.
It tilted its head, the optic underneath the V-shaped gap rotating. The feeling of the word and no accuracy? An odd confusion was rooting through its program.
The blonde pushed himself up to stand and pulled the lever, opening the hatch. He winced at the bite of the cold against his face. He saw the mines not too far before looking down. He swallowed.
[Do you not know the advanced wind spell master's late mother taught you?]
"I… uh… I got to intermediate… I know advanced fire though!" He saw its eye gleam. "Uh… what did you do?"
[Informed master of your lack of expansion in magic. I was immediately told to relay to you this audio message.]
"Cody, when you get back, I am going to maim you for not taking considerable note of my mother's important lessons in expanding your magic!" Lily's voice echoed through Cyclops' audio system. She did not sound happy. She sounded offended.
"Ugh… at this point I kinda wish I stayed within Patch…" Cody groaned out.
[Sending note to her]
"Nonononono!" Cody flailed to get the machine to stop.
[Audio message received.]
"Throw him out."
That was no message. That was an order directed to her creation.
"If you do what she says… I'll melt-" The machine extended its large claw and flicked him off with two talons. "OH I AM SO MELTING YOU INTO SCRAP!" Cody cried out as he was flung into the air.
It squeezed itself out and curled before plummeting. Cody waved his arms and managed to grab hold, though yanked harshly to join it in the rapid descent. The teen and Cross held on, the latter comically flying upward from the sheer speed of the fall.
Cody tightened his hold and squeezed his eyes shut… but there was no impact. Instead he found himself floating by the cyclops halting itself at the last two seconds.
"I hate you, you know…" He glared at the Cyclops.
It uncurled its large form and shrugged. [I followed the master's command.]
"You don't have to send everything i say to her!"
[Following her command.]
"And if she told you to follow me in the bathroom, you would?!"
[I am to respect the privacy of all those affiliated with the master.] it replied.
"Wiseass bot."
[My wisdom is due to master's registration of ongoing correspondence of history, science-]
"Ugh, I get it! Come on, I have to join the girls while you watch the entrance! You are the size of an Arma Gigas, you will only cause the mines to cave in with your size and claws."
It looked at its large claws as emphasis. It lowered the limbs and nodded.
"Can't believe sis has to make it go with me for this…" He didn't mind the extra company to have some assurance but a part of him assumed she was trying to keep him in comfort because when she fights Evol, it will be the VERY last fight for both the saint and snake.
He walked before noticing Team RWBY alongside Harriet and Marrow. Like Yang, the other three had changed in outfits but also the three had new hairstyles.
For Blake, her outfit was a black, collared catsuit with a zipper on the chest that hugged her body. A pair of thigh-high black boots wrapped her feet with zippers on the fronts and two kneecaps as protection. Over her catsuit was a long, white tailcoat with dark gray detailing on the chest, sleeves, sides and collar. It has a narrow gray belt around the collar and a wide white belt loosely secured around her waist through the coat's belt loops. The belt around her waist has a white pouch attached. The tails of the coat ended in points, and the inside lining was a vivid purple color. The front zipper of the coat was upside down and extended to the very bottom of the coat, and there are additional zippers along the sleeves. Around each wrist, she wore a black belted wristband, and she appeared to have something gray strapped to her back like a backpack. Her hair was no longer long but neck-length.
Ruby's new outfit consisted of a black red lined lace-up corset with four buckles hanging loose over a mesh sleeveless top over a white low cut long-sleeved blouse, as well as a black choker around her neck. She wears a red pleated skirt that is split at the side with a small brown belted strap across the gap, and bright red shorts under it. On her arms, she wears black bracers with large brown buckled straps around the wrist as well as black fingerless gloves. Around her waist, she now has a brown belt with several bullets with a buckle of her emblem on it alongside a pouch on the right side with a Zwei based emblem and she wears black, thigh-high steel-toe boots with red soles and heels, a single buckled strap, rear seam and a large brown buckled strap with attached pouches near the top, over a pair of brown mesh tights. In addition, her torn cape is replaced with a new cape that has a hood. In addition to her outfit, she too had a change to her hairstyle as it was spikier and choppier, her bangs swept to the right.
And finally for Weiss, She wears a pale blue sleeveless dress with deep red lining, bow detail fixture, and two diamond-shaped pieces hanging from the corners of the hem, over a white diagonal hem strapless dress. Above which she wears a vivid blue shrug with a raised collar, puffy sleeves and the Schnee emblem on the left sleeve, fastened by a blue, silver outlined strap. On her arms are a pair of long navy blue gloves with silver top trim surrounding a red gem at the top. Over her dress, she wears a light blue, corset styled belt. Around her waist are three white belts with a medium-sized pouch attached to the lowest belt and another pouch attached to the middle belt. The lowest belt crosses over the middle belt. She wears long, pale blue wedge-heel boots with white frill detailing at the top at the front, alongside grayish blue coloring on the toes and navy blue wedge heels. In addition, she wears a pair of ruby earrings that match her icicle-shaped tiara with a diamond-shaped ruby in the center. She too had her hairstyle changed into a more braided look.
"Looks like we all got a new change." Cody noted to the others, admiring the new change the others gave themselves.
"New place, new change." Ruby shrugged. Her eyes dimmed slightly but shook her head. Focus on now, not before. "So, this is the mines?"
"Correct." Harriet confirmed before pointing up at the machine. "That thing with you will watch out for any Grimm that tries to come into the mines."
"Lighten up will ya?" Cody defended. "It's just looking out for me because of sis."
"At least someone has a leash on you…" Harriet huffed.
[Audio Message Received. The message cannot be relayed because of excessive language the master has said in regards to insulting the sworn brother of master and myself.]
"Wow… must be some colorful words."
"Even as a Saint, I guess too many insults can send her to the point of having a potty mouth." Weiss guessed. A small portion of Lily's personality still remained after her identity crisis. Guess even a Saint has their patience.
"She can be a bit overprotective after all…" Blake noted, feeling a bit embarrassed about her girlfriend with such colorful language.
"Harriet, I suggest you keep your personal feelings to Cross-Z out of the mission. Understood?" Clover ordered his teammate through comms.
"But Clover-"
"We'll discuss this later. We have a mission to do."
"Y-Yes sir…" Harriet nodded, understanding that she must stick with the mission. She sent a quick glare up at the machine then walked ahead.
XXX
The cavern of the abandoned mines was quiet, except the occasional drip of water from the rocky structures above their heads. "So this was a Dust Mine?" Cody asked.
"Yeah. Decommissioned due to… 'complications' or as such as I was told…." Weiss grimaced, already knowing the stories as well as what was 'hidden away' from the public's knowledge.
"But because of it, every ounce of dust within these mines is now unstable and highly volatile. So do your best not to use any actions that could cause the dust to erupt. Otherwise we all go sky high with it." Marrow informed the group. "And our needed dust is out the window."
"I'll… stick with Great Cross-Z then, just in case…" Cody gulped, knowing his Magma Form is meant to be volatile in action.
"Yeah, do that." Harriet murmured.
Blake slowed her steps and knelt down, brushing away the remnants of snow. With it, her amber eyes saw the sign that had the three letters SDC. Her brows furrowed. Blake observed her surroundings and then her cat ears straightened in familiarity. "Blake, you okay?" Yang asked.
"This place… I know where we are now. This mine was closed after an explosion…"
"I remember this disaster." Weiss realized. "Or rather, how furious it made my father…"
"Oh…" Cody winced.
"I hate to break up the small gathering," Marrow interrupted, "But Harriet found a gap in the rubble. We think one of you could fit through, ideally someone with a knack for seeing in the dark."
"By one of us you mean Blake?" Cody deadpanned
What they got was a sheepish smile from Marrow.
The cat Faunus sighed. "Right… of course." She approached the rubble before entering through the crevice of the rock wall. It was nothing at first until the Faunus made
"Is there any dust in the immediate area?" Marrow called out.
"Mine carts… debris… no Dust, though." Blake responded.
Satisfied with the answer, Marrow called out again, "Great, then it should be safe to blast our way through."
"Okay, heading-" Blake's voice was cut off as we heard a startled gasp from her and a gunshot, immediately causing a state of alert.
"Get back!" Harriet demanded as her braces activated and bashed the rock wall down, providing a wide opening of a tunnel.
In front of Blake was none other than the Geist, as it looked at the others and raced ahead. "The Geist went ahead!" Blake responded as she attempted to chase after it. But breaking through the rock was a new species of Grimm once more. This one was similar to a centipede, but it was designed to literally move through the ground and rock like a drill.
"Centinels!" Harriet recognized the appearance of the Grimm. "Engage now!"
"Back at ya!" Yang was waiting for this to let loose.
"Henshin!" Cody cried out, as his Great Cross-Z armor slapped onto him, surprising the Ace Ops from the new change he had compared to last time they saw him. He rushed in as two of the Centinels rushed towards him in a drill fashion but he simply slammed his fist and turned them into dust like it was nothing.
"He's gotten stronger.." Marrow noted with surprise.
"He is the son of a monster after all…" Harriet huffed with a look of disapproval.
Weiss used Myrtenaster to send an ice crystal at one of the centipedes, allowing Ruby to behead the other. Despite its body still alive, the scythe wielder smirked and used her weapon's new upgrade to fully rotate the scythe head, allowing it to slam into the ground to fire several projectiles.
Blake used her repaired Gambol Shroud's kusarigama mode to ensnare one before pulling, allowing the weapon to pull the Grimm before it sliced its entire head in pieces. Seeing the next, her Semblance allowed her to evade and trap it between ice. With the Grimm trapped, she merely turned Gambol Shroud into its blade form and killed it.
Ruby sped forward before skidding on her feet. Just as the Grimm was about to latch its jaws at her, the former student frowned and pulled the button, the bottle within her scythe ignited and in blinding speed, beheading it. The crevices of the weapon elicited steam. Rocket Bottle had benefits before she swung it down with a strong swing, impaling the next. She spun on her heel and dragged the weapon across its body, cleaving it in half.
Cody noted the brutal display Ruby performed unlike previously with her swift and simple strikes he had always seen her do. 'Lily's words really put her through the wringer…' his eyes softened underneath his helmet. Did Ruby practice for a bit before the departure of this mission?
"Hey! Eyes open, we're moving out." Harriet called out, snapping the rider out of his stupor.
"R-Right!"
After a long run within the mines, group at the center of the mine itself via the bottom level of the chamber. Looking around, Ruby was the first to see Team JNR plus Oscar alongside Elm and Vine above.
"Any sign of it?" Ruby called out to Jaune.
"Everyone, use caution. This room is highly active with Dust energy. Triggering it could ruin the launch site." Vine informed.
"And vaporize us. How's that always second with you?" Marrow added.
"It has to be around here somewhere…"
A low rumbling noise from above caused everyone to look up. Above, they saw the Petra Gigas Geist clinging to a chunk of ice on the ceiling. It ominously turned to look down, showing purple Dust crystals embedded in its body. It leapt down from the ceiling, crashing through a stone arch on its way to the ground in front of the young adults.
Ruby gasped, "It added Dust to its body? How are we supposed to-" Harriet suddenly sped passed her, and Marrow followed suit. Elm jumped down from the cliff and ran toward the Petra Gigas, as well.
"Elm!" Vine called.
The man reaches out with his Semblance, pouring his Aura and flexibly solidifying an Aura arm around one of the Petra Gigas' legs. With the other Aura arm, he reached behind him, grabbed onto a support beam and pulled. Elm ran over to the leg, stomped to root herself in place with her Semblance and grabbed onto the leg.
"Vine!"
Vine released his hold on the support beam, leaping off the cliff and used his Semblance again to swing onto a minecart bridge. Then he used his Semblance once more to grab onto one of the Petra Gigas' arms and pulled.
"Marrow!"
Marrow threw his boomerang at the exposed Geist arm between pieces of ice and rubble, severing it. A Dust crystal flies out from the released rubble, and Marrow's eyes widen, "Huh?" The crystal fell toward the ground, and Marrow caught his boomerang. "Harriet!"
The said woman charged her Semblance and then sped after the crystal, maneuvering around the falling rocks. She ran up a rock, jumped off the side of a raised walkway and caught the crystal in mid-air, landing on another walkway. Marrow sliced off the Geist's other arm, sending another Dust crystal flying through the air.
"Crap!" cursed Marrow
Luckily, the crystal was caught by a familiar hand, who just arrived with Qrow. "What would you guys do without me?" It was Clover.
He tossed the crystal to Qrow, who looked at him with an eyebrow raised. The leader of the Operatives saluted Qrow and jumped backward off the cliff. Harriet sped around Petra Gigas' feet, while Vine swings himself around and punched the Petra Gigas in the chest. Harriet speeds to the middle of the room, whistles and waves at the Petra Gigas, then speeds away when it tries to hit her. Elm takes this opportunity to slam her hammer onto the rock composing part of the Petra Gigas' arm. The rock became stuck, and as the Petra Gigas struggled to pull it up, Marrow severed its arm once again.
With the beast incapacitated, Clover landed on the ground, deployed his fishing rod, and ran over to the Petra Gigas. He jumped off its leg, launching himself into the air. Giving his clover pin a bump with his thumb, he swung his pole and pulled on the fishing line, directing it to wrap around the Geist's mask and hook onto it. Clover pulled, literally forcing the Geist out of the ice block. Harriet runs into position and uses her Semblance to launch straight up into the air, punching the Geist with her weapon, killing it.
"Okay… that was impressive…" Cody was in awe, surprised at how well they worked together. Guess it made more sense now, when they first caught him. He gasped when the last crystalline Dust was flying and it was too far for most of them to reach for it, meaning speed was needed before it touched the ground.
"Crap!"
Suddenly a flurry of petals flew past him before it uncoiled and Ruby caught it with her arms, holding it tightly and her back dragged across the dirt. Looking at the crystal, she rested her head back on the dirt with slight relief all the while raising the item in hand up for them to see.
"Are you okay, Ruby?" Yang asked, as her team rushed to her side with worry.
The red-cloaked Huntress sat up, setting the Dust on her lap. "Yeah… but hey, the Dust didn't explode on me like two years ago."
"True, you are… better at that." Weiss pointed out but with a slight smile. It was the day they met.
"Well done, Ruby. We can now inform the general about the mission. Let us get outside first." Clover patted the huntress on the shoulder with a nod of approval.
"Hey kid." Harriet called out to Ruby before she too gave her a pat of approval. "Good job. Though, I thought you said your Semblance was speed like mine?"
"It is! Right?"
"It looks to be something more than that."
"Oh…" Ruby looked at her reflection in the violet Dust crystal. She could see her silver eyes, allowing her fingers to touch them. 'Something more… huh?' Ruby repeated that in her head, pondering why that felt different than what Lily was saying about her.
It made her feel frustrated. She stood up and quickly handed the Dust to Harriet before walking away in silence to exit the mines.
XXX
Ruby stared at the sky as her cloak fluttered. She then lowered her head, recalling Lily's words about having to understand the big picture and the big question whereas Harriet's words about something more.
"Just who am I really if I am something more…" she murmured.
[You have to decide it.] She gripped her weapon but saw it was Cyclops who dropped a disintegrating Sabyr.
Ruby frowned as she turned away, "Go away…" She ordered the robot, not in the mood for Lily's attention.
[Emotions show frustration and hate.]
"No, and here I thought I was becoming Weiss…" She rolled her eyes sarcastically.
The machine walked before kneeling, its head tilted. [I can listen to the woes of master's companions.]
"Companions? Huh.. thats the first joke I've heard all day!" Ruby frowned before hugging herself, "I'm no companion… Lily just hates me…" she said sadly.
The former student nearly coughed when she found herself hoisted up by the collar of her cloak. She flailed but found herself sitting on its shoulders.
"Let me go! This is kidnapping!" Ruby flailed, hitting the robot albeit poorly. She slowed her hits when she noticed the sun was slowly on the verge of setting.
[Master has not expressed any hatred. Like the sun, time has her on its hold.]
"Then why can't she trust me? Why does she push me to this limit? Because of what happened, I don't know how much I can even take from this!"
[She doesn't want you to die like Arthur.]
"Then why doesn't she just open up and tell me? Why make me see such horrors and viewpoints when I don't even know if I can do this anymore?!" Ruby asked, pleading for an answer to ease her mind.
Her eyes blinked slightly, feeling its hand on top of her head, its optic looking up at her, [Time is a fragile concept. Humans' lifespan in this world can be short or extended…. But history shows humans make mistakes that lead to death. You fall… but you come back stronger. To become something more. To be who you truly are.]
"And just what exactly am I supposed to be?! I… I don't even know who I am anymore…"
[You.]
"H-Huh?"
[You are enough. You are a warrior of the silver eyes. A human. You are you. Like the setting sun, do not let yourself for who you are fade away.] he stared at the sun. [Master… won't be around in 48 hours… all she wished for you… is to have your dream remain regardless of the darkness of the world.]
"Wait! She's leaving so soon?"
[Serpent is approaching… Master will begin her final experiment. Success and victory has drawn the beast of the abyss.]
"But we can help her!"
[Do you wish to join master into the idea of exploding dark matter and matter with your body at close range?]
"I uh… what?" she asked, confused by the terminology.
[Do you wish to be erased into Oblivion]
"She's… going to kill herself to stop Evol…?" Ruby's eyes widen in shock.
[Experiment states energy collision.]
"Why… why didn't she tell us this sooner?"
[In 24 Hours a briefing will be made to all. Master has relayed her planned experiment to Cody and Blake Belladonna.] he sets Ruby down and kneeled. [I must report to her for planned experiment. Ruby Rose… do not forget my words. I wish to ensure all companions of master are well.]
"I'll… I'll do my best…" Ruby said, sniffling as she rubbed the tears away from her eyes, trying to remain strong. "T-Tell Lily… I am sorry…"
[She also will let you one hit. She does feel guilt for her harshness.] Ruby laughed weakly. She looked at her hand and raised it to a fist. She noticed it tilt its head. "It's a fist bump… you know… between friends?"
[Friends…] it flexed its fingers individually before finally curling its fingers into a fist. It rotated its large limb and slowly pressed it against Ruby's fist. The machine registered the odd action but it knew it will only he forgotten. It felt… sad.
It glowed before vanishing. Ruby wiped away her tears.
"Ruby?" She turned around to notice Yang.
"H-Hey sis… Um.. what's up?" The young huntress asked.
"You okay?"
"Just… had some things to think about."
"Well… is there anything you wanna talk about? Non-huntress stuff." Yang smiled, sitting down with her sister to just talk normally.
"Sure… I'd like that…" Ruby smiled softly.
XXX
Lily grunted as she shoved the plate over the machine. Inside it, grasping with claws was the legendary alien artifact Pandora's Box. Her experiment required it in order for her plan and theory to work successfully. Of course she had to use the lab Atlas had… and lock them out of it for privacy… and prevented them from using their credentials to get back in…. And she may have put the lab under full lockdown with it.
Okay, she had the whole place to herself. Happy now?
But that wasn't the point. She had to ensure this was finished. Her magic sensed that bastard. He was getting closer to Atlas waters and if he gets here, the military stands no chance against him or his technology.
"Um… Lily? Mind letting me in?" Lily paused and glanced at the hacked security camera. It was Pietro.
"Not now, Pietro. I'm in the middle of a secret project." She grunted, twisting the piece in and double checked the system. Almost done…
"Why lock everyone out?" She could feel the man's gaze from the camera.
"Because I cannot have any more distractions or disturbances when this is a matter of life and death. I have to finish it… my last experiment." Her fingers curled on the tool. The metal hands that hovered around her mimicked the response of her hands. Droplets of water landed on the metal platform. "To make dreams a reality… so no more will be tainted. I will not let others sacrifice their lives to delay him any more. This project will succeed… so no more can be made just to stall that snake from eating our world." She rubbed away her tears.
"Oh Lily…" Pietro frowned sadly. "You don't need to go this far, young lady."
"I've tried countless test experiments to kill Evol, none worked! But one did…" her eyes stared at the machine. She pursed her lips before stepping off. She tapped the holoscreen and Pietro suddenly noticed only he had access to enter.
Hesitant at first he entered his credentials and entered but it locked out the rest of the researchers and workers. Pietro nearly felt his glasses fall to what he saw.
It was as tall as a human but it looked to have panels meant to… absorb energy for Pandora's box.
"With this… the energy my bottle has and the energy Evol has will be absorbed by it. Once Pandora has gathered enough… it will release what I need… a tear in dimensions." She murmured. "And you want to know how it works? Once the crack opens, the energy we both have will be the key to rewriting what Evol touched. A place where all those bastard facilities, the nebula gas, that tower, the Walls in Eden… will be gone. The experiments will be cured and they and the agents… will forget Evol. And maybe… I will be forgotten as a result of it."
Pietro couldn't believe it. He couldn't make something like that but Lily… by Brothers, Lily has made countless revolutionary discoveries just from this alone. To rewrite a world? To rip open the fabric of reality itself? Goodness the girl was smarter than him in this subject!
Staring at the machine longingly, Pietro turned around to look at Lily. "And will it be worth it for those who love you? Will you regret having to leave them once you are gone from both mind and soul?"
Lily lowered her head. "To save those who couldn't save themselves… making mistakes but live on. Live and die." She began to break down. "I can't but I want to save everyone from that bastard…"
"Just remember… everyone is in your heart, as is yours in there's…" Pietro said before taking his leave.
The former Faust agent sniffled before her eyes noticed her creation appearing. "It's almost time…"
[Master, do you think this will work? The snake will sense the box and realize the lure]
"I know… but this is my one shot… for Cody's dream to be a reality. If Evol wants to give everything he has to kill us? Then I will do just the same." Her eyes drift to the wall but wasn't staring at the wall. She was staring at the direction the magic was coming from.
"I am ready for our last fight Evol. Just like centuries ago."
Far from Atlas and Mantle, underneath the ocean waters was nearly two dozen cloaked Amphibious. Inside one of them was a sneering Evol.
"This time… You will fall, Vernage.." Evol sneered deviously. "Our last dance together." He chuckled before laughing in delight.
A/N: And with this, we are reaching the end game against Evol. Alongside some explanation on Lily being so harsh on Ruby. Hope you all can understand what we were trying to explain and show here? ^^; Very sorry for those who were so upset with Lily and what she was doing. Of course more will be shown about it next chap, but hopefully you all can understand the reasoning more now?
Until then, later minna!