Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.

A fairy tale, perhaps that was the word that perfectly suited the place where the RWBY team and Lance found themselves. Candy hills, a giant mushroom forest, a purple pine forest, a rocky volcano and in the middle of it all was a huge tree that stood over the entire valley like a monarch.

- Now we will linger here and meditate in silence, or... - Yang broke the long silence.

- I know this is a strange place, but a fairy tale? - Ruby was very enchanted by the place, but she tried to remain rational. - That's impossible. - Blake interrupted her skeptical thoughts and pointed to the talking mouse on Ruby's shoulder.

- Will we ever get out of here? - Lance wasn't so confident.

- What we've seen so far is quite unlikely, - Weiss tried to think as rationally as possible. - but that doesn't mean we're really in a fairy tale. - This world that completely disregards logic really annoyed her. - Are we seriously participating in this?!

- Do you have a better explanation for what's going on here? - Yang swept away her arguments just listed with this single question.

- Well, - Weiss thought. - let's think it logically. - She looked up at the sky. - We fell from the sky, - Then at her friends. - Ruby and Lance befriended a mouse.

- Friends! - Little exclaimed excitedly.

- Blake and I were caught by killer vines, - Weiss continued. - and... um... - Then she looked at Yang in confusion. - your hand was stolen by a... what did you say, what was it?

- A giant, talking raccoon on a purple cart full of junks. - Yang repeated it a little tiredly.

- Yes, - Weiss understood after a few seconds of silence. - that. Okay, now I understand what you're trying to get at. - She had to admit that despite all logic, this illogical world is a real fairy tale. - I'll go a little closer now. - She turned aside and walked to the edge of the cliff to mumble to herself, trying to force logic into this chaos.

- As crazy as it sounds, this all seems familiar somehow. - Ruby recognized this world from somewhere.

- The Girl who fell through the World! - Blake remembered and carefully examined the valley. - I think we're in the Ever After.

- Blake, it's just a made-up world! - Weiss still denied it. - It's just part of the story we all read as children!

- But it's not a made-up world! - Little brought up a legitimate counterargument. - I've lived here my whole life.

- Can you tell me more about it? - Blake was excited about this fairy tale world. - Have you ever heard of Alyx?

- An Alyx? - He thought for a moment. - Is that a goal?

- In the story, - Blake remembered it well. - Alyx fell from the sky and met the hunting mice. She was trapped by vines and fought the Jabberwalker and had her dagger stolen by a... talking raccoon.

- Yes, - Yang joined in. - then she defeated the Red King in a board game. She met the Curious Cat, the Rusted Knight and finally made it home to the... - They looked at the big tree in the middle of the valley. - Through the Tree!

- And now what? - Weiss, if she didn't like the fact that they were really in a fairy tale world, hoped the others had a plan. - Should we go to the Tree? Should we look for Alyx, Yang's arm? Ruby, we still don't have Crescent Rose!

- Maybe we should go find Jaune and Neo? - Lance suggested.

- I think your stuff will be at Jinxy Peddler. - Little One interrupted.

- WHO?! - The four girls shouted at the mouse at once.

- A Jinxy... Peddler? - Little ducked into Ruby's cloak in fear. - He's the only talking raccoon I know.

- Maybe you know where he is? - While Weiss was grumbling again on the edge of the cliff, Blake was trying to get from one to the other.

- Of course. - Little assured them and climbed onto Ruby's head using her hair. - I'll show you the way! - He pulled himself up bravely. - Straight ahead!

After five minutes of walking, Little fell asleep on Ruby's head again. Yang and Blake went ahead, driven by the excitement of the fairy tale world, Weiss and Ruby followed close behind, while Lance was hanging at the back, quite dejected and gloomy.

- So, - Blake led the group. - as it turns out, the city is right in front of us, right? - Ruby nudged Little on the head, but the mouse barely moved, only turning comfortably to the side and nestling in Ruby's hair. - I was thinking. If we're going to this town, we need to be careful. Alyx didn't know their habits and ended up starting a big fight among the townspeople. Trouble followed her wherever she went.

- Yes, but she was pretty sneaky too. - Yang reminded her. - She just lied and cheated until the end of the book.

- She was trying to survive. - Weiss, now that she had experienced the Ever After herself, she understood. - The lessons of old stories are always so primitive.

- It doesn't matter. - Blake got to the point. - We have to be careful.

Little almost fell off Ruby's head during this, but he woke up at the last moment, grabbed her hair and stretched as soon as she reached a safe place.

- The city is right ahead of us. - He spoke to everyone and pointed ahead. - Jinxy Peddler always stops in our village before traveling to the city.

- Did he steal from you too? - Yang asked.

- Steal?! - The word really scared him a little. - Never! He only takes what isn't his while we're not looking. That's fair. - He curled up again and covered himself with Ruby's hair to fall back asleep.

- Sounds like a deal my father used to make. - He reminded Weiss eerily of his father. - How did he even manage to steal your arm? - She was curious about that, because Yang isn't the type to steal from easily.

- I was unconscious for a long time after the fall. - Yang felt a little embarrassed. - When I woke up, that damn raccoon had already grabbed my arm and run away before I could blink. When I followed him, the beast I was fighting appeared and I completely lost track of him.

- So, - Blake just laughed at what he heard. - he made you disarmed? - She just poked her playfully and Yang poked her back, then Blake hugged Yang's remaining arm and they continued on their way.

- Good for them. - Seeing how well Blake and Yang were getting along, Weiss remembered Jaune and could only hope that he wasn't hurt.

- You say that? - Ruby just watched her sister and Blake curiously and remembered an old conversation at the school dance back in Beacon. - Lance, are you okay? - She looked back at the Red Knight, who was just hanging out behind them with his head down.

- I'm fine. - Lance was very broken and made a grim face, which the girls couldn't see because of his helmet, but his voice was weak and sad. - I'm just a little tired.

- Hang in there, - Ruby encouraged, but she was clearly worried about him. - we'll find a way out and go home. - She took the boy's gauntleted hand. - Together.

- Good. - Lance just nodded and kept walking, but Weiss suddenly stopped.

- Weiss? - Ruby didn't understand what had found her friend.

- It's... - Weiss could barely find the words and Ruby's earlier words reminded her of what she had lost a few hours ago. - Everything's gone. - Now she realized that with the destruction of Atlas, the place where she was born and raised was destroyed. - I don't have a home anymore. I have nowhere to return to. Just like Beacon.

- Weiss, - Ruby took Little off her head. - you did everything you could for Atlas.

- But it wasn't enough! - Weiss wasn't comforted by this. - We came up with a crazy plan that put an entire kingdom in danger and sacrificed it, - She grabbed the hilt of her sword to gather strength. - and we couldn't even protect the relics!

- At least we managed to save the people. - Ruby tried to look on the bright side of things. - Cinder didn't even get any strength from the Maiden and if we're looking someone responsible for Atlas's destruction, it can only be General Ironwood!

- At least you still have your teammates. - Lance just put his hand on the girl's shoulder and then they continued on their way.

They managed to get out of the jungle and reached a rickety bridge that led to another island. There was a yellow mist under the bridge, they couldn't see the bottom, but on the other side there was a beautiful red carpet that led to a purple forest where even the grass was red.

- So, this is the entrance to the different acres, as you said? - Blake wanted to clarify.

- Yep. - Little was still in Ruby's hand and he answered confidently. - We just have to cross the bridge and we'll be... - He had no idea what could be on the other side, he just jumped out of Ruby's hand excitedly. - there, whatever it's on the other side.

- You don't know? - Yang was a little worried.

- Nope. - He walked a little closer to the bridge. - I've never been this far from home before.

- Oh, - Ruby felt a little embarrassed that he had practically been dragged out of his life. - Maybe you should go home now.

- I haven't the faintest idea how to get back. - Little didn't mind at all that he would probably never see his family and friends again. - Maybe I'll live by this bridge.

The girls and Lance were struck by the realization that they had literally put Little under the bridge.

- I'll handle it. - Weiss was the only one who could handle the situation.

- I'm building a house, - Little sang excitedly as he made his new, rickety home out of sticks, stones and leaves. - my very first wooden house. I'll figure something out in my best house.

- Would you rather come with us? - Weiss suggested, hoping the mouse would accept.

- Well... - Little thought about it, but after his new house collapsed at the same speed as he had built it, the decision was easy. - Yes! It'll probably be for the best. - He went back to Ruby, who put it on her shoulder again.

The terrain of the Crimson Forest was much easier than the jungle, as there weren't as steep hills, there was less vegetation and they could see further.

- Check this, - Yang had a joke. - red grass! What do you think they call the classics here?

- Everreds? - Blake guessed, and they both just laughed.

They soon reached the city, which had a rather medieval feel, there were markets where they could shop, but the inhabitants of the city were strange, fairy-tale characters who stared at the newcomers and whispered quietly among themselves.

- Just... - Blake was also bothered by it and tried to blend in. - act like the locals.

- I wish I was a local, - Little looked around excitedly. - but I don't think there's any place for me here.

- There it is! - Yang spotted the purple cart whose owner had stolen her arm. - What's the strategy? - She was getting more and more excited, knowing that she would soon regain her lost limb. - Are we just going to scare him a little or are we going to beat him up?

Blake saw a group of wooden soldiers in red uniforms, who were very much alive and she was afraid that if they started a fight, there could be serious consequences.

- You know, in the book, Alyx had to bargain with Jinxy for her dagger. - She tried to make her girlfriend to the diplomatic.

- Yeah... - Yang didn't feel like it. - I'd rather just punch him. - She tried to be diplomatic for Blake's sake.

The side door of the cart opened and after a big puff of purple smoke, a stage appeared where the raccoon was, walking with a stick and waving to the crowd and the crowd cheered when they saw him.

- Hello everyone! - The raccoon, Jinxy, as he was called, greeted everyone.

- He's so cute! - Even though he stole his friend, Weiss wanted to hug him.

- And older than in the book. - Blake found it a little strange that this Jinxy was different from the one in the book.

- I'm Jinxy! - The raccoon continued the show. - And these are the most amazing treasures from all over the estates! - He swung his staff and pointed to a shelf behind him, onto which a golden scepter, a diamond bunny statue and a jade doll had fallen. The crowd couldn't help but marvel at the treasures.

- I can't see my hand! - Yang was bothered by the fact that she didn't have an arm.

- All of Jinxy's treasures aren't what they seem, she just magically disguises them as something else. - Blake remembered this in the book. - So people think they're buying something valuable, when in fact he's just scamming them.

- Okay, he and my father would have been good friends. - He reminded Weiss too much of her father. - But which one's Yang's arm then?

- What's your heart telling you? - Blake asked excitedly, to which Weiss just rolled her eyes wearily. - That's how Alyx knew.

- Well... - Yang looked at the golden scepter, the hilt of which looked a lot like Ember Celica. - that one looks a lot like it...ish.

- Ruby, Lance? - Blake sighed and looked at the other two members of the team.

- That one... - Ruby just looked at the jade doll. - there's something about it.

- I can feel it too. - Lance's heart told him that that doll was hiding something very special.

- First item! - Jinxy took the first thing. - The diamond-encrusted rabbit statue! You! - He pointed with his cane at a strange, yellow-skinned, toy-like figure. - Charming! - He winked at him and the lucky one excitedly went up on stage.

- How are we going to bargain? - Weiss was worried about the finances.

- Don't you have a lot of money, princess? - Lance thought it was a little strange that Weiss, who was the heiress of the richest company, would walk around without a coin.

- I mean, I'm not sure they accept Lien here. - Weiss clarified her question a little.

- I don't think there's any currency in Ever After. - Blake was confident. - Jinxy names the price he wants.

- And what did Jinxy ask Alyx for? - Weiss was already starting to get interested in the story.

- Her saddest memory... - Blake remembered that this part of the story wasn't very cheerful. - and the happiest.

- Sold... - Jinxy cried out after agreeing to give his the diamond rabbit. - for a hug! - Jinxy and the toy-like figure hugged each other on stage.

- Wow, - Little was just amazed at what she saw. - the hugs are very valuable! - He hugged a strand of Ruby's hair.

- Maybe it won't be that bad. - Yang calmed down, since it seemed very simple.

- The second item! - Jinxy continued the sale. - A golden scepter!

- Me!

- Me!

Yang and a carved soldier in a red uniform appeared at the same time. Yang looked worriedly at the soldier, who just glared at her with an angry look.

- The bidding price... - Jinxy started, but Yang interrupted.

- No, I was the one who first... - In vain, Jinxy didn't care, he just named the price.

- ...the knowledge of what it feels like to be loved! - This question made Yang blush quite a bit and feel embarrassed. - I would say that's a pretty fair price for someone.

While Yang was thinking about how to put her answer into words, the soldier and his companions just started writing on a piece of paper.

- To know what it feels like to be loved, by royal decree! - The soldier showed the paper on which was written, "His Majesty's decree that he will pay whatever Jinxy wants.".

- Sold! - Jinxy immediately accepted the soldiers' offer.

- Wait! - Yang angrily objected. - That's my arm!

- Whatever it is, - The soldier didn't even listen to Yang's objection, while his companion had already brought the arm. - Now it's royal property! Nothing is too high a price for His Majesty's birthday!

- We tried your method, Blake. - Yang growled with reddened eyes and wished she could make toothpicks out of these stumps.

- The third item, - Jinxy continued her sale. - the jade doll!

- Me! - Ruby immediately raised her hand to say she wanted the doll.

- You! - Jinxy chose Ruby.

- Ruby, - Weiss whispered nervously to the team captain. - what are you doing?

- The bidding price, - Jinxy took out an empty bottle. - enough hope to fill this bottle!

- This... what now? - Ruby didn't really understand how to fill a bottle with hope.

- Hey! - Suddenly, Jinxy noticed that the doll was missing and saw Little on the stage trying to steal it. - You little... - He immediately threw himself at Little, who jumped out of his way and started running. - Put that back! You can't touch it until the deal is done!

Suddenly, a plume of purple smoke appeared around the doll and it immediately transformed into a dark green, bulky glass sword that Little couldn't carry anymore.

Ruby and Lance realized like lightning, because that sword was Penny's.

Purple smoke also appeared around the other two objects and they changed back to their original forms. The diamond rabbit statue was just another mouse munching on a cheese plant.

- It's a fake! - The doll that bought it shouted angrily and stirred up the crowd, causing them to start blowing furiously at Jinxy.

The soldier who had the golden scepter in his hand was horrified to see that it had turned into an arm and threw it away in fear.

- Mine! - Yang was already running for her arm, but the soldier didn't let her go and they grabbed the arm at the same time and started pulling.

The soldier took out his wooden sword and tried to strike Yang with it, but the girl avoided it, then pressed the trigger of Ember Celica on her arm and opened fire on the soldier, who fell back from the shot.

Lance quickly made his way for himself and Ruby through the crowd and they soon reached the stage, Little and the sword.

- Here it is. - Little proudly showed the sword.

- Are you okay?! - Ruby picked it up Little worriedly.

- We'll take this! - Lance took the sword and saw that Ruby almost cried again.

- I got it! - Yang ran past them excitedly, her arm in her hand.

- Ruby, Lance, come on! - Blake and Weiss thought it best to quickly disappear before they got into more trouble.

Luckily, no one chased them after they got out of the city, back into the Crimson Forest. Yang just laughed it off, but Weiss and Blake didn't find the situation so funny.

- Those guys... - Yang panted, but happily. - they take auctions too seriously! - She held up the robot arm with her human hand. - High-five? - Blake just pushed her away angrily and disappointedly. - High-five? - Weiss didn't appreciate what Yang had done either.

- We're making the exact same mistakes Alyx did! - Blake started to worry. - We're ruining everything!

- Is that your biggest problem? - Weiss couldn't help but be moved by the fact that they had caused trouble in this strange, unknown place.

- I've read so many stories! - Blake just lost herself in her fantasy and looked up at the sky. - But I never thought I'd be a part of one of them. - She sat down dreamily on a fallen tree.

Ruby sat down next to her and hugged the glass sword, the only thing left of Penny. Lance sat next to her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him to comfort her.

- Ruby? - Yang, after reattaching her arm, walked towards her sister worriedly.

- I can't explain why, but... - Ruby began, still looking at the sword. - I was so drawn to it.

The sky rumbled, storm clouds covered the sky and it started to rain.

- I'm sorry. - Lance thought again about how many friends he couldn't protect. His team and Penny, were all gone and there was nothing he could do to bring them back. Ruby was crying next to him and there was nothing he could do to cheer her up. The only thing he could do was hold his shield above her, to at least protect her from the rain.

- Great, - Weiss just bent down nervously. - now it's raining! I'm sick of all this! - She pulled herself up angrily. - It's time we got out of this nightmare! - She pointed at the Tree. - Alyx went to the Tree to get out, right?! Then come on!

- I don't think it's going to be that easy. - Blake was skeptical about this. - In the book...

- We're not in the book! - Weiss didn't even listen. - And even if we were, we know where to go! There! - She started trampling angrily towards the Tree, but as soon as she entered the forest and passed through some trees, she came out a few meters behind two other trees. - What the... - She was horrified to realize that some mysterious force had sent her back to the point she had started from. This time she started running, went back into the forest, jumped between the two trees and ended up back at the starting point. - Stupid Tree! - She angrily picked up a stone and threw it at the Tree, but it ended up back where it had started and Weiss threw herself on the back of her head and fell to the ground.

- Yes, - Little remembered that Ruby and Lance had done the same thing on the beach. - we've tried this before. We can't get to the Tree like this.

- So what should we do now? - Yang was also starting to worry. - We managed to get my arm, but we still don't know where Crescent Rose is, we don't have Neo or Jaune and we don't even have a clue how to get out of here.

- Over here! - Suddenly the soldiers from the fair caught up with the group. - Someone's sad! - It's clear that the weather is in line with the mood of the people here, for example, when someone is sad, it starts to rain.

- I would be sad too if I ruined His Majesty's birthday! - Another soldier added.

- There they are again. - Yang braced herself for a fight.

- Blake... - After a long silence, Ruby spoke up. - What did Alyx do next? - The rain stopped, Lance took the shield from her head and Ruby stood up confidently, as if she knew exactly what to do.

- She... - Blake thought for a moment, but quickly remembered. - went to the Crimson Palace! And beat the king at his own game.

Suddenly, from the bushes, four carved soldiers in red uniforms jumped out, galloping on toy horses.

- Hands up! - The platoon leader ordered. - You sneaky birthday ruiners!

- Okay! - Yang raised her fists and excitedly prepared for a fight, which made the soldiers back away in fear.

- We want to go to the birthday party. - Ruby stood up from the log.

- Well, that's a shame, - The soldier didn't even understand what the girl said. - because now we're taking you to... - Late, but at least he knew that he had to take them there. - Yes. That's why we're taking you there as criminals, because you stole royal property!

- What if I offered your king something, - Ruby held Penny's sword towards them. - that's more valuable?

- Ruby...! - Lance could hardly believe that Ruby would be able to sell Penny's sword just like that.

- A powerful warrior's weapon. - Ruby, not even hearing the Knight's objection, continued, and the soldiers leaned closer, curious and excited, to admire the sword.

- Continue. - This piqued the platoon leader's curiosity.

- She wasn't only a very strong warrior... - Ruby spoke from her heart, completely honestly, because this is what she thinks about Penny and she would tell the girl the same if she had another chance. - But she had the greatest power that a living being could have. - Lance touched the girl's shoulder encouragingly and under his helmet he let out a tear. - She was touched by magic. And she sacrificed her life so that thousands could escape. - Ruby didn't even notice that her tears started again and fell onto the sword, which perfectly reflected her face. - She radiated hope to the stars... and looked at the world with eyes that few can. - She handed the sword to the soldiers. - Take us to the king's birthday party and I will give you the most precious gift I can give.

- Yes... - Even the soldiers cried at Ruby's speech. - by royal decree. - He took the sword and proudly turned to his companions. - Come on, boys! You heard me! A birthday celebration awaits us!

There was no more to say and the soldiers had already jumped on their toy horses and set off towards the palace.

- Ruby, - Lance looked at the girl indignantly. - how could you just give Penny's sword away?!

- What do you think Penny would have wanted? - They could feel how much she regretted having to give the sword away, but she knew it was the right decision. - Sit here and cry for her? Or would she have done everything to help us getting further? - She set off after the soldiers and the rest of the team followed her. - We have to go further, for Penny.

Lance knew that the girl was right, but he still didn't like the fact that she had given away the last memento that was left of Penny so quickly.

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