It was a few days later that team RWBY and surprisingly Coco, Yatsuhashi, and Velvet of team CFVY arrived at the abyss. "Just like I remember it." Ruby muttered before smiling. Unaware to the scarlet reaper, Velvet heard her. "You've been here before ruby?" she asked. The red reaper nodded.

"When I was five." She said looking around the village. "Now where's the guild? Should be… Ah ha! There!" Ruby pointed at a building.

"I can't read it." Coco said before looking at ruby. "How..?" the red reaper smiled. "Mr. Hollow taught me how to understand and speak the language of the abyss' residents both topside AND in the abyss itself."

Yang facepalmed before shaking her head. "If this 'Mr. Hollow' is really imaginary Yang, then Ruby most likely wouldn't be able to read, let alone speak the language here." Yatsu said as they followed Ruby into the Guild.

All chatter ceased as the group of eight entered. "I assume you're the teams of huntsmen Beacon sent to survey the abyss." A grey-haired man said. "Yep," Yang said pounding her fists together. "I like your attitude girl. Just be weary of the fourth layer when you reach it." Blake frowned.

"Why?" she asked. "The raider-killer. He's a Narehate that uses a modified musket. A friend of mine saw the bastard kill a colleague." A nearby delver said.

"All of you shut it." A voice said. everyone turned to see a man with brown hair that was starting to grey. "While he may kill, I've seen him once in full view." The man said. "If you did why are you still here." the same delver asked.

"It was twelve years ago, I was giving some foreign explorers ,that were being escorted by a huntsman, a tour of the fourth when a girl in a black dress and red cape approached the camp. The huntsman seemed to know her." Yang's eyes slowly widened.

"As the two embraced, I caught a glimpse of the Raider-killer. He was watching us. I figured that he was waiting for us to.." the man continued to speak before Ruby cut him off.

"He wasn't waiting for you to fall asleep sir." She said smiling softly. "He was looking at the girl sadly. Having to part ways with her hurt him." The greying man frowned.

"How would you know huntress?" he asked. Ruby glanced down before looking at greying man. "Because I was that little girl sir." The red reaper said placing a hand on her chest

"I'll be damned, you weren't bullshitting us." The grey-haired delver said. "So, this raider-killer is there photographic evidence of his existence." Yang asked.

"Most have tried getting a picture of the freak." The young delver said not noticing Ruby tightening her fist. 'so this is what Mr. Hollow meant when he said Narehates weren't exactly liked up here.' Yang noticed her sister's change in demeanor.

"Listen pal, I might not think this person is real, but please don't insult him in front of my sister." She asked kindly. "May I ask why?" the aging Delver asked. "That freak looked after Ruby for a week before you found her."

"I think we're done here." Weiss said disliking the young delver. With the aging delver's story, to her, Ruby's story seemed plausible now. Perhaps there really was a Mr. Hollow.

Yang, while she was still skeptical about Mr. Hollow's existence, would give her sister the benefit of a doubt.

"Hey, if you plan to go down there, would you do something for the guild?" the grey-haired man asked. "What is it?" Coco asked.

"A red whistle went missing after running away from her orphanage. Answers to the name Riko. She's traveling with a cyborg she named Reg. Last I heard from her friends, she intends to find her mother at the bottom. Make sure she gets to Ido Front safely will you?"

"Can do." Ruby said as she, her team, and the three members of team CFVY left the guild and headed for a layer elevator after getting some cave raider supplies. "Hey Ruby, what's a red whistle?" Blake asked. "it's a kind of rank in the cave raider system. Red whistles only have access to the first layer. Since Mr. Hollow lives on the fourth. We'll be travelling a while so; I'll tell you what he taught me." Velvet raised an eyebrow.

"Which would be?" she asked. "One: eyes and ears must be on a swivel at all times. Two: treat everything, even docile creatures as a threat. While they may seem harmless some docile creatures can be deadly predators. Three: enjoy the rations that we brought from beacon while you can, because once there gone. We'll have to hunt and gather our food." The rest grimaced at the thought of eating the local wildlife.

3 WEEKS LATER

Ruby stepped off the elevator that travelled from the third layer to the fourth. "I'm back." She said glancing around with a smile. Yang stopped right next to her. "So, this is the layer your most familiar with?" she asked as the rest stepped off.

"Mostly, I'm only familiar with the area that Mr. Hollow lived in. He's probably the better choice at leading us through the fourth when we find him." The red reaper said. "You mean if we find him." Blake said.

"Ruby, it's not that we don't believe you. That delver's story made it seem that he could exist. We're just a little skeptical is all." Weiss said.

Unaware to the huntresses and huntsman, they were being watched by the very Narehate that Ruby was looking for. "Maa, Huntresses and a huntsman. Guess remnant decided to investigate the Abyss." He said with amusement. "Welcome back Lil' Rose. Can't wait for a reunion. Whenever that may be or," Saki said looking at Ruby as she argued with her friends over his existence. "maybe right now." He chuckled "Time to make an entrance."

"Argh!" Ruby yelled in frustration at her teammate's continued skepticism. "Listen, for the last time…." Ruby was cut off by Coco.

"Guys," she said in a worried tone "Yeah coco?" Yang asked. The sunglasses wearing huntress pointed in a direction. "over on that cliff. I think that's Ruby's friend." She said.

True to her word, a small figure with rabbit like ears and a tail stood gazing down at them with a modified musket resting on its shoulder. "He's real." Ruby said smugly, hands on her hips, a smirk on her face.

The Narehate clipped the rifle to its back and proceeded to parkour its way to them. "Maa, so what brings a couple of huntresses and a huntsman down here?" he asked them. "A red whistle came down here, the guild wants us to make sure they safely make it to Ido front." Blake said

"Ido Front?" the Narehate mused. "That's in the Fifth layer. You should get moving then." The Narehate turned to her. "The girl came through here three days ago." Yang nodded

"Thanks, lets go guys. Don't want to get on his bad side." The rest, save Ruby, nodded, and began to depart.

"Oh, by the way." The Narehate said gaining the seven's attention. "Aren't you going to say hello… Lil' Rose?"

This cause everyone to whip around. The Narehate lowered its scarf revealing a toothy smile. Ruby approached him and kneeled. "Its good to see you again, Mr. Hollow." She said before hugging him.

Ruby's friends were shocked. Mr. Hollow was really real. Yang did something that she'd never thought possible. She fainted from shock.

"Is she going to be alright?" Mr. Hollow asked pointing at the blonde.

A/N: Way too early for a reunion, I know, but the plot calls for it. Next we'll see Ruby and Mr. Hollow catching up as well as him joining the crew to find Riko and Reg.

I will be holding a poll on the AU story until chapter 9. If enough people want to see it, I'll do it. I'm setting a goal of 10 people saying yes. So far only one has said yes. So please let me know if you'd love to see the AU. Those who've already said yes and say it again won't be counted

As always, please read and review. Constructive criticism is allowed. That being said, peace.