This chapter is the start of a rewrite of the final arc/remnant arc of this fic. Originally there were 20 more chapters, but these have been removed, and new chapters will be uploaded, starting with this one. More details in the author's note after the chapter!
Chapter 43: The Offer
The moment they felt solid ground on their feet again, the first thing that hit them was enormous pressure. Far greater than even the deepest layer of Hell, it crushed down on them, despite the resistance all three of them possessed to high density reishi.
"You can breathe easy now" said the being, following which, the pressure on them lifted instantly.
It was unclear if the pressure was something he'd created to begin with or if he said that to help them withstand the pressure around them.
"Where are we..?" asked Ruby, looking around.
The first thing they noticed was that Ruby for one, was no longer in her gigai. All three of them were separately manifested, with Summer in her soul reaper attire, Crescent in her usual robes and Ruby in her Espada form. She could see marble beneath her feet, and they seemed to be in a chamber of sorts. Still, calling it a chamber was underwhelming, since the 'chamber' itself was easily as big as the throne room of Las Noches. A curtain was draped in front of them, dividing the room in two. The curtains were now drawn to the side, tied and secured to each side. And standing directly in front of them at the other end of the room was a man encased in what appeared to be a sealing crystal. The man had slicked back dark hair, oval eyes and thin, almost non-existent eyebrows. His eyes were what stood out most, with each one having four black irises. And apart from that, they could see that he had no limbs at all, as if they had been severed from his body.
"You now stand at the adobe of -, also known to you as the Soul King" said the being, now standing beside the man encased in the crystal.
"Th….The Soul King…? That's him…?" questioned Ruby, surprised.
"Not sure I heard his name right though, mind repeating that again?" Said Summer, raising her eyes.
"You didn't mishear me, Summer Rose. The name of the Soul King is not something that can be vocally pronounced in your tongue" he explained.
"Hold on…..when you say Soul King….that would mean we're in the Royal Palace….then…how are we here? I thought you need the King's Key to..?" asked Ruby.
"You have my invitation. That is more than sufficient" he replied. "I need only to will it so". Ruby narrowed her eyes and Summer raised hers.
He only needed to think about it and they could be here, next to the Soul King? A place that Aizen spent his entire life trying to get to?
Before Ruby could think about how to frame the question in her mind in an appropriate manner, Summer just went for it.
"Not to be rude….…" asked Summer in her usual manner. "…but if you're not the Soul King...then just who are you? I'm sure you already know, but this place….boya spent his whole life trying to get in here. He almost sacrificed 100000 people for it, just to create something that would allow him here. I'm not even sure how to take in the fact that we're just…..here"
"Patience and you will know the things you need to know" he said. "After your return to Hueco Mundo following the passing of your second mother, I gave you my word that all shall be made clear once you have completed your role. And as such, I have brought you here"
Any further questions the trio might have had were put on hold as they waited for the being to start.
"Who I am is not something that can be expressed in human means of communication, as are a lot of things I wish to convey. But contrary to your beliefs, the ones who truly matter for our discussion are the three of you. Even more so than I or the Soul King. I shall speak of that which is needed, and therefore, I shall lay it all down in ways that you can perceive" he said, stretching his hand out. The black tar from his hands gushed out, growing more and more voluminous until it took on different shapes.
"Ruby Rose. During our first meeting, I showed you the fate of your world since your departure and the fate that befell its inhabitants" he said.
"Yeah I remember" said Ruby. "It's a memory I'll never forget….and you said that even someone like me leaving had such a large impact on my friends and family. And you even mentioned how it was because of that reason you brought mom to the Soul Society and me to Hueco Mundo"
"Correct. But did you ever wonder what your fates would have been had I not done that? And the fate of this world in your absence? Surely you must have believed that your home world could have avoided its doomed fate if I had done nothing?" he asked.
"…I did think about it" said Ruby. "But it's not like I could tell anything for sure"
"Even before that" interrupted Summer. "You were the one who brought me here first, even before my sweetie pie came here. What about that?"
"A valid question. But contrary to your belief, Summer Rose, your departure has more to do with this world than your own. For if I hadn't acted, you would have simply met your end at the hands of Salem" he replied, his tone unchanging "In essence, you could say that by bringing you to another world, I changed how causality decided your ultimate fate and the fates of everyone else in this world. But the details do not matter for your purposes" he said. "The point is, even without my interference, the fate of your world was to end in doom regardless. The 'why' and 'how' are of no relevance now, since they will no longer come to pass, atleast from your perspective"
Ruby couldn't help but grit her teeth "I know everyone is fated to die one day. Throughout my life here, I've accepted that. But still, for my home to suffer such a cruel fate is just unfair, even for you, wouldn't you say?"
"Such is the fate of your world. No matter what changed, no matter how many timelines I observed, it was all for naught. But your world is not the only one" he said. "Earth is also yet another doomed world, despite being far more intricate in design as compared to your home world, it suffers a similar fate and this too, is what would have happened without your presence" he said.
"Was it…Aizen?" asked Ruby.
"In some rare timelines, yes. But in all the others, the convergence point is nothingness, brought to effect by the forced merger of the realms of Hueco Mundo, Soul Society, Hell, The Living World, and the Wandenreich, the realm where the Quincy reside. Caused by Yhwach, Leader of the Quincy"
"Yhwach…." repeated Ruby. A name she knew very well.
The one responsible for the death of Masaki.
She furrowed her brows, the name leaving an unpleasant taste in her mouth.
"And as I have mentioned before, in our previous encounter, you have grown strong, mentally and physically to witness the events and experience that befell both of your homes and stay sane. You have performed your role up to this point as I envisioned. Two worlds that were doomed from the start, regardless of what changed. And both abandoned by the ones that created them" said the being. "It is necessary for you to know, so you may appreciate just how significant your role in all of this is and just how your very presence here can bring redemption to both worlds, worlds which are now equally your homes" he said. "What could not be for each world on its own can now come to be because of you, who have lived in both worlds and grown in ways that would not be possible were you denizens of just one world or the other"
"What about you?" asked Summer. "You say you're doing this so what we saw won't happen….but if you're really that powerful, why not just fix it yourself?"
"Because that is not my role, Summer Rose" he said. "Which brings us back to your previous question. For your purposes, all that matters is that I exist only to serve as an overseer, watching a story unfold, and observing each possibility without interfering" he explained, the black tar shifting once again, this time covering himself. As the being changed forms, he changed to one that the trio were very familiar with.
A slim male with curved, segmented horns that arc back over his head and curve upward to a point just over the back of his cranium. His form was a deep purple that seemed to draw in surrounding light and with no features whatsoever.
"..Yo….you're the God of Darkness….!" Remarked Ruby, surprised.
"…huh…so we're literally in the presence of god…." Said Summer.
"It is merely one of my forms. One that you can see and perceive as a human being without losing your minds from the stimulus you would have received otherwise. I believe your world calls such beings 'Eldritch Beings'. Humans really are curious, able to imagine things far beyond their means. I still think my brother gave up on his creations MUCH too quickly. For a creator, he was rather impatient" said the God of Darkness. "Yes, you know whom I speak about. The one who took on a form similar to mine. Indeed, you, Ruby Rose and Summer Rose, even have his eyes. And you, Crescent Rose, have my own" he said, showing his own golden eyes, and also materializing another figure beside himself, taking the shape of the God of Light.
Ruby and Summer's silver eyes seemed to ache in response to the figure of the God of Light. Ruby could see her daughter's golden eyes resonate and ebb in response to the presence that was the God of Darkness.
"Golden eyes…this is the first I'm hearing about it" remarked Ruby. "Does she also..?"
"Naturally. Just like how my brother's silver eyes ward off those descended from my powers, so do mine eyes have the ability to ward off the essence of those descended from my brother. Soul Reapers, Quincy and back at your home world, everyone and everything with a soul. Not even Salem, the one cursed by both of us, has our eyes. You should consider this a very rare privilege. If she so wished, your daughter could easily take her place. As a piece of your soul, your daughter would have inherited my brother's eyes as well, if not for the fact that she is a pure being from Hell, which is my domain. Perhaps if your daughter's soul had formed when you were outside my domain, she too would have inherited my Brother's eyes. But given the current course of events, her eyes took on a form that suits such a nature" answered the God of Darkness. "But of course, unlike my brother's eyes, mine DO have a price to pay, for such a thing. That is my way. If you erase the spirit energy of those descended from my Brother, you lose an equivalent amount. And if you rob one of my Brother's kindred of their life, you lose an equal amount of lifeforce as well. Therefore, as with everything, I would advise you to respect the value of everything for what they are, as well as yourselves" he answered.
There was an ominous silence, with Crescent almost shutting off her eyes in response. Naturally she had no idea herself about her eyes, nor did her mother and grandmother, from the looks of it. But there was one thing she knew. She definitely did not want it going off without control, given that her grandmother was a Soul Reaper. Or anywhere in the vicinity of her Soul Reaper and human friends.
Although, the idea of scaring Yachiru into playing with her on her whims and giving her treats, by threatening to turn her into dust seemed very fun. Naturally she wouldnt actually do anything, but it was worth a shot. But on second thought, that would just make Yachiru excited into fighting her and therefore, Crescent silently whisked away the idea back to the confines of her head in disappointment.
"Let us continue. Your world too, formed no differently than your current home. Made from gas, dust and rock around a star, with life starting out very similarly as it did here on Earth. What did change however, was how life evolved, naturally. No two things in the universe are the same, and yet, one can recognize patterns, repetitions that indicate some common order. As it should be. But both of you already know what came from that" he explained.
The rest, of course, was history she was well aware of. Up until the point she first arrived on Earth, following Pyrrha's death at the hands of Cinder Fall, that is. Whatever might have happened after that, was lost to time. And Ruby didn't care either, about things that would never come to pass, atleast from her perspective.
Even the memory of Pyrrha's death was so weak, so faded in her mind, that she hardly felt her emotions waver at the thought of it. 15 years of time spent on Earth had no doubt left its mark. She had seen and experienced much worse.
She even questioned her current anticipation about returning home. Was she even looking forward to it as much as she thought? It HAD been more than a decade since she last saw any of her family of friends from Remnant. While their appearances and forms were indeed vivid in her mind, from her time in Hell, it was also not real.
Which only further fogged out her memories of her friends and family. Did she even remember their faces properly at this point? Their real faces?
A characteristic of being human, she thought. Of moving on.
The thought strangely consoled her.
"….so….that's how our world was made" remarked Ruby absentmindedly.
"And by that….you also mean that's how we all died and will die, don't you?" asked Summer. "I mean….with the whole Salem playing the gods and getting herself immortal as a punishment and getting the entire planet wiped sterile no matter how events played out, isn't that right? I dont know what happened after my sweetie pie was brought here by you, but I assume that's where it ends up"
"That is correct. Salem served the brother gods and in return for that selfless service, I only found it fitting that her wish be granted. For she paid a price for which she received no compensation. And when she turned on me with the rest of humanity, I retaliated when they attacked. It is as simple a matter as that, just as I mentioned. And it is the reason the God of Light never granted her wish, despite the deeds she had performed for us in our names. Because if she were granted her wish, then others would follow her example. And then, life would have no meaning at all over death if it meant your loved ones could simply be revived. He saw that as imperfection. A being that could not accept the natural laws of the world it lived in. And thus, as the God of Light, he deemed your world a failed one" explained the GoD, now drawing up a vision of Earth, right next to the Remnant and its shattered moon.
"Though the brother gods were done with the world they once cherished, our roles in this tale were far from done. Following the failure of your home world, the brother gods worked on their creations again, this time improving upon the flaws they found in their previous creations. A world you call Earth. Surely you have noticed the similarities? The Grimm and the Hollows and the beings of Hell. Faunus and Humans alongside the Soul reapers, Quincy and the human beings of this world. Spirit energy and Aura. Semblances, Zanpakuto and the energy abilities of the Quincy. The corrupting nature of Hell and the instinctive hunger of Hollows alongside similar natures of the Grimm to seek out those with souls. Why, when you saw your companions who received power from the Hogyoku, namely Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado and Tatsuki Arisawa, surely you believed they looked oddly similar to that which you call 'semblances' from your home?" he asked.
"...I'm not too surprised, no" admitted Ruby. "As you said, it was the first thing I thought about. But it's nice to know that my guesses were right"
"But this world is complex, much more so than your home world. Each of those concepts such as spirit energy, the four classes of beings, and the nature of how life and death evolve, are much more intricate compared to your world. The laws of 'Remnant' are rather simple. Once one dies, their soul is merely returned into the environment. To become part of everything once more, just like how one's physical body returns to nature. The 'dust' you use by refining raw minerals are made of the same spirit matter that condenses in the air, the energy to supplement your aura by consuming food that contains in it the 'fuel' required for a living being to replenish their aura, as well as the Grimm"
A stunned silence ran across Ruby, Summer and Crescent.
"Just a logical and efficient system to recycle things, huh? I'm not really surprised that gods like you don't really act with emotion, just pure logic. It isn't good or evil. It just is. Like the laws of nature" said Summer
"Your concerns and reactions are expected but meaningless. Because at that state, they are not even shadows of their former selves. It would be akin to mourning for the plants that made up the fuel you use to drive your machina on Earth. Regardless, following the failure of their first world, they aimed to create something that would transcend past the humanity they created together in Remnant. A being that was in all ways superior to humanity as they once existed. With none of their flaws but their superior in every conceivable way. And that is how the being you call the Soul King came to be" he explained, showing a projection of the Soul King in his prime with all of his limbs intact.
"The gods were very sure about their creation. They were certain that the life that spawned from it would evolve beyond the humans of Remnant. And so, using his arms and legs, four realms were created. The Soul Society. Hueco Mundo. Hell. And the realm of the Quincy, which they now refer to as Wandenreich. And these four realms co-existed and overlapped over Earth, which formed the World of the Living, whose existence was maintained by the Soul King's remaining body. The God of Darkness and The God of Light then created an intricate system of life and death, with a flow of souls in and out of different realms governed by rules far more intricate than what was previously the case with your home world" explained the GoD, with the visions in front of them forming vague spheres representing the different realms.
"So that's what it was" remarked Ruby to herself. "Though the Soul King is the cornerstone that holds this world together, ultimately they're the creators….so that's what Aizen saw…and meant when he spoke of a being 'even greater than the Soul King'"
"But you have seen with your own eyes the fate of this new world. Even though the humans and the other inhabitants of this world originated from a superior being such as the Soul King, the fate of this world was just the same. But the God of Light was done. Despite his and his brother's efforts to create the perfect, harmonious existence, it never came to be. And to the God of Light, it never would. And so, the God of Light departed for the far beyond. But the God of Darkness would see another possibility. One that came to be only because of his fondness for the imperfections in his creations. The God of Darkness believed in the notion that one was always paid what one was owed. For the suffering the two worlds had endured, they deserved compensation. And that, Ruby Rose, Summer Rose, Crescent Rose, is where you came in. By being brought to this world, you gained knowledge, abilities, experiences and bonds you would not have otherwise, and because you were not of this world, you changed this world in ways that was not possible before, giving rise to new causality for both worlds and therefore, new possibilities and new endings" he explained.
Ruby stood in silence, soaking it all in, as did Summer. This time however, Crescent had a question of her own. She looked upon the God of Darkness's form in front of her, reaching out to him.
"Why my mother you ask? That is simple. Your mother and your grandmother both are silver eyed warriors who were capable of such a task. The same silver eyes with the power of the God of Light's eyes to wipe out my creations. Out of all silver eyed warriors that exist in your world, only they could survive the ordeals you were put through without breaking, only they could form the bonds and connections that would lead to new outcomes, new causality and new endings. Because of who they were as people as well as their own strength both in the world you call Remnant and Earth" replied the being.
"You really couldn't find anyone else other than my darling, could you?" snapped Summer. "After all, we're not the only ones with silver eyes"
"I can understand your anger, Summer Rose. You would even go against the God of Darkness if it meant saving your daughter. But don't forget. That is exactly why you were the only one who could have fulfilled the role you were given. Most would've never recovered from their fate staying in Hell for a million years. Or even in Hueco Mundo. And even fewer would have retained their sanity and compassion for their loved ones. But as I said, there has been meaning to your suffering and your suffering shall not go unpaid" he said.
"And by that, you mean that none of what you showed will come to pass to my family and friends, right?" asked Ruby.
"That is entirely up to you. As I showed you in our previous meeting, in the 15 long years you have been here, your world has not waited for your return. Time passed albeit at a slower pace, without you three. And that time has not been kind to your companions. You have seen it. The compensation I speak of for your efforts and suffering here, is the chance to return to a state when things were not as ominous. You did NOT have a chance before" he said. "I shall only watch, never interfering. Even if your actions alter this world's fate to further ruin, I shall simply accept that as a possible result and leave it at that, as one of its creators. Judging that not even an act of interference from the creators of said worlds could save either one. And even if your actions should alter this world's fate to prosperity, that too, is just another result"
"You mean...I no longer have to watch everything fall as it did back then, at Beacon?" asked Ruby, her brows raised. The God of Darkness's silence...or the lack of a rebuttal, confirmed her questions. "Then…..I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen" declared Ruby.
"And the two of us will always be with her" said Summer, joined by Crescent who sported the same determined look. "Still….why here? You could have explained this to us back at our own place"
"Because there is one that wishes to convey his thanks to you personally for everything you have done and will do for the world he cherishes" said The God of Darkness, pointing to the Soul King. "I simply chose a location where I could speak of the things I promised to you, as well as accommodating the wishes of another"
"Ruby Rose….Summer Rose….Crescent Rose…." came another voice, catching them off completely. While the God of darkness's voice was forebodingly divine and conveyed a tone of indifference, the Soul King's voice was akin to that of an angel, calm, soothing and one that conveyed nothing but goodwill. "Nothing I do can express the gratitude I feel for what you have done for my world. I was forbidden from interfering. But do not misunderstand. I feel pity for those that could not be saved, those that gave up their lives trying to stop Aizen Sosuke in his ambitions, which if they had come to fruition, would have resulted in the death of this World and the many trillions of souls in it. But that is the way of this world. And though the part played by those that prevented such an act is just as commendable, you have faced far worse than any possibly could, taking on suffering that did not belong to you. Though I understand it was not your will to be here, you still did everything you could to save my world and the souls in it"
There was genuine sincerity and guilt in his voice. Though he could not move a single inch, encased in the crystal seal he was in, though he spoke to them in their minds, all that he held for them was gratitude.
"Thank you" said Ruby. "It would be wrong of me to say that 'I don't mind' when a part of me definitely feels bitter for all that I've had to endure and all that mom had to go through to get here. That's why, I really appreciate your words, Soul King. Because despite having to sacrifice your limbs and remain in the state you are right now, you still only want the best for those in your care. And you've been that way for far longer than either Mom or I have. If anything, I wish I could do something for you as well"
"Your concern is much appreciated child" said the Soul King. "But I do not mind being this way. If not for this, this world and my children in it would not exist. What would truly pain me is if something were to happen that threatened their very existence. And that is why, you have my utmost thanks and it would bring my utmost happiness if I could provide the means for you to travel freely between both your homes, once the Lord of Darkness sends you back"
"I see….then, I have one more reason to ensure that I change the fate of our worlds. But…..you want to send us back right now?" asked Ruby.
The God of Darkness's answer however, surprised her.
"I cannot" he replied. "I did tell you that the chance to rewind one's fate was your reward, for your efforts. Only that. Nothing more. The 'chance' to undo fate, is your reward. However….there is still something required. To physically exist there. You died here, and that is fact. And getting your physical form back is nothing short of a revival, a resurrection. And THAT is not allowed"
Summer frowned her eyes "Well that's stupid" she stated, unfazed about maintaining language and demeanor. "What's the point of giving us something only to tell us it's of no use to us? Shouldn't a 'gift from God himself' be given in a state that makes it a gift in the first place? It's like making cookies but asking us to get the gift box"
The God of Darkness however, remained neutral, as was his tone. "The chance to undo one's fate is an impossible occurrence, one that is as miraculous as reversing the permanent state of Death itself. Not even Orihime Inoue with her powers granted from the Orb with the power of the Soul King's authority, the one you call the Hogyoku, is allowed to break such laws, even if she has the capability to. Therefore, what you have been given is an authority that goes beyond the rules of both worlds. And that still follows my principles and laws of equality and karmic compensation. This is nothing new to both you or your daughter, having seen this first hand during your time at Hell"
Silence followed after, with Ruby, Summer and even Crescent trying to think up of a solution to their unforeseen predicament. But they wouldn't have to wait long.
"But you needn't fret, Ruby Rose. The responsibility to provide compensation does not lie with you. For nothing a mortal can provide shall even equal a conceptual rebirth. But there exists a different possibility. Since you will not be returning to the same time as you left your world, naturally your past self still exists as an individual of her own. But…your soul has morphed, adapted and metamorphosed too much to be considered the same as your original self. You are essentially different entities at this point. Because even if you share the same starting point, what you are right now, is not something your original self can ever reach in her home world, for such a state of being does not exist" he explained.
Ruby however, had a confused expression on her face. "I'm not sure what you are pointing at"
"In simpler terms, if your soul was untainted by the changes of this world, you could have joined with your younger self into one being, since you both would have been one and the same, just years apart in time. Your memories, consciences and your personalities would have simply merged into one soul. Now however, you and your original self are two different entities that cannot meld harmoniously to exist as one soul in one body. Therefore….the only other possibility is for you both to share your original self's body. Not unlike you, your mother and your daughter. Your souls are linked, and yet, you are separate beings. And this is a choice that both you AND your original self must agree upon in mutual consent. After all, this is a contract. And I always return that which is owed. If your original self denies to do so, then you will have no choice but to remain, or seek another method. That is the only way you can return" he said.
There was a long pause after that, with Ruby raising her eyes in slight surprise.
"Well…I guess we have room for one more hahaha" chuckled Summer. "Plus, I wouldn't mind at all having another cute daughter to call as my own, and she literally IS!"
Even Crescent seemed to be happy at the prospect of meeting a younger version of her mom, who was much closer to her own age. It was strange, and yet, the thought made her happy.
Ruby paused in thought for a while, before smiling. "Yeah, sure, why not? I don't think I would have it any other way. In fact, I would feel bad if I needed to use her soul and body as a means for me to stay there. I much rather prefer this. Then, how do we go about forging this contract?"
Both the forms of the God of Darkness and Ruby's went incredibly still, with Ruby's eyes appearing almost lifeless. Summer was naturally very quick to check on her daughter, as was Crescent on her mother, but she was as still as a statue, and nothing she did got any sort of response.
"She is not here" answered the Soul King. "It appears they are in a separate dimension. I presume the Lord wanted this to be her choice devoid of any external interferences or influences to question Ruby Rose's original self for the contract. However, rest assured. The lord of darkness is a conceptual being true only to the concept that defines him"
"I don't see the point" shot back Summer, unfazed. "My darling, this little one and I are one being now anyway. Sure, we manifested here separately, but surely, we'll end up going back to being one when we return? Then why would it matter? In fact, shouldn't that be reason enough to have both of us as well?"
"As the Lord of Darkness explained, you are not the same being, you are simply three beings who happen to share a body due to the strong connections between your souls" corrected the Soul King. "Conceptually, you are still yourselves. And hence, this deal only applies to the affected parties, that is, the two versions of Ruby Rose in question" he replied.
Summer sighed grumpily.
"Fine. She IS a grown up, she can handle herself I suppose. I can ask her the details later on"
Right on cue, movement resumed between the God of Darkness and Ruby. Ruby's eyes remained unfocused for a moment longer, as though she was adjusting to the sensation of being brought back to herself. But sure enough, her normal pensive expression was back on her face.
"The pact is now concluded. The only thing that remains, is for the three of you to return from whence you came" said the God of Darkness.
"We're good to go" Ruby said. "It was….quite something. I didn't expect she…I mean, I would react that way when looking at, well, me hahaha. But I think she was delighted at the aspect herself. I'm glad we could come to an understanding. Although, I haven't mentioned anything about you both, I kinda want to surprise her. I only told her it would be me. I know the younger me would be excited to meet you after so many years, mom. And you too, darling" she said, looking at Summer and then at Crescent.
Summer Rose paused for a bit, lost in thought. And then, she locked eyes with Ruby again, a soft smile adorning her face. "Actually, I think that's not a bad idea sweetie" she said. The ex-rose huntress of team RWBY tilted her head in confusion.
"What I mean is, I think I'll stay here for a while longer. I can join you later. I think you should go by yourself for now" Summer explained. She then looked at the God of Darkness "That is possible, right? Could she make the trip now while I join back with her body later?" she asked.
"That is correct. You can go by yourself, or together if you so wish. And you can choose to return back to your merged state if you so wish at a later time" came the reply.
"But why would you want me to go alone, mom?" asked Ruby. "Is something the matter?"
"Sweetie, I want to give you some alone time with your friends and school, so you can take the first few days, or heck, even a couple of months if you'd like, to just soak it all in, Beacon Academy, your friends that you haven't seen in 15 years, everything. After all, I don't really know anyone there anymore, except my little Sunshine, maybe Ozpin and Glynda and a handful of others. There's Tai, Qrow and Rae as well, but…I imagine you're not exactly going to different corners of the world the moment you touch down just to meet them. So…it's fine. I'll just hang around here a while longer, you just go and have fun out there for a while"
"But…"
Crescent then tugged on Ruby's robes.
"You say you want to stay with mom too?" asked Ruby. "Because you don't know anyone there and are feeling shy?"
Crescent nodded her head. Ruby looked back and forth between her mom and her daughter, but it wasn't long before she gave in to the piercing, pleading looks she got from both of them.
"Fine. In that case, I'll go. But please, I want you both to come along with me too" she asked. Summer returned an assuring smile.
"But of course! I'll be joining you whether you want to or not! After all, I do want to see my little Sunshine, Tai, Rae and Qrow myself. Not to mention my new and adorable third and youngest daughter" she beamed.
Ruby sighed but her expression did relax and break into a smile "Alright then. But..can we make just one more stop before I go? I would like to say goodbye to my friends here first, if that's alright"
"That is naturally fine, of course. I never stated you wouldn't be allowed to return here, so I would advise you to not bid farewell forever to your family and companions myself" he replied.
"And consider this a gift from my end, for protecting my world and for all that you have endured. No compensation needed for this. Merely consider this my thanks. At the very least, I am allowed to give you this" said the Soul King, and the three of them could feel something change within their very souls.
"I've bestowed you with the King's key. Yes. The very thing Aizen Sosuke sought at the cost of sacrificing so many souls. It is what he desired the most at that moment, but for you three, it will serve as something far simpler and humble. With that, you just need to use your Garganta or Senkaimon or in young Crescent Rose's case, a hellian summoning portal, and you can return here to my abode anytime you please. This will also serve as the vantage point between our two worlds. Naturally of course, this is after the Lord of Darkness transports you to your world first"
"Woah…just like that? I should rub it in the boya's face the next time I see him" snickered Summer "Well, thanks a lot, Soul King. Next time, I hope we can do something nice for you too"
"Ironically, he always had the King's Key himself. He always had the right to visit my abode" revealed the Soul King, much to the shock of the three. "It….no, she was always by his side, and therefore, part of him. Which of course meant that all he needed to do was turn to the one who truly never left his side, even now. If Aizen Sosuke wasn't so lost in trying to find himself, perhaps he may have realized it sooner. No doubt, she feels hurt, much more so than he realizes. Especially since she was so easily discarded without a moment's hesitation"
"I'm…lost here. Who..?" pondered Ruby.
"I'm sure you realize it. You have one such person too, dont you?" he smiled, looking at Crescent and Summer. "Kyouka Suigetsu naturally. After all, she is my daughter, born from my right arm, and the progenitor of all Soul Reapers and the realm of the Soul Reapers. Which naturally means she has the same authority I hold. And that goes for all of my four children"
"Incredible..." remarked the Rose Huntress. "His own Zanpakuto. That's just….it was…sorry, she was always there for him. He was so blinded he never even thought about…I just can't..he was so close. So close. So….he never needed to do anything. And yet…."
Summer patted Ruby "Well, I'm not really surprised. I kinda had a hunch to be honest. Probably because I became a Zanpakuto myself and got to spend time at Hueco Mundo with Aizen. I could tell something was up. Though it does surprise me that Kyouka was that great. I did talk to her once in a while, you know? She never gave off that aura though, it just felt like I was talking with Aizen. I suppose that speaks volumes about how much of an actress she herself was, being able to fool even Aizen. Still….knowing the boya, I would say it's very fitting. I'd say it's a good lesson for the wee lad. Life does tend to be like that. Sometimes, we completely miss the things that are right next to us. Most of us probably don't even realize even when it slips away from him. It's a bit strange to say it, but I hope he learns better, that boya"
"Indeed, and Ruby Rose, that is a lesson I would advise you to engrave in your heart as well. I am certain it will aid you one day. It is always refreshing to see that side of you, Summer Rose. Truly, you never waver even in front of Lord of Darkness or myself. It is no wonder that you were chosen for this cause" said the Soul King. "In any case, perhaps it is best you say your farewells to your companions and family? I imagine you are looking forward to returning home, after being spirited away for so long"
"Right…yes" agreed Ruby.
And that was that. Indeed, not a second after he had said that, Ruby found herself back within her Gigai back at the Kurosaki household, and looking at the time told her that she was back almost at the same time that she had been whisked away to the Soul King's palace.
A Gigai that she would no longer need.
The thought did incite mixed thoughts within her, thoughts that were not missed by Summer and Crescent.
Ruby's talks with her companions and family were strangely uneventful, to say the least. Naturally of course, Ruby first made sure to manifest her mom and her daughter in The World of the Living first.
For one, Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu were rather positive and even somewhat encouraging about the whole thing.
"I mean, it's your home, right?" replied Ichigo, when asked by Ruby. "You have folks there you haven't seen in years, no? Why wouldn't we want you to go visit them?"
"And before you tell us 'this is my home too', of course we don't deny that" added Karin. "But Ruby-nee, we'll be fine you know, we're not kids anymore. Plus, with us going back to school as usual, we don't even spend that much time with each other for the most part of the day anyway. You've been handling everything for us so far, when that goofy oaf we call dad should have been the one helping us out with housework" she sighed. "Even if something happened, Summer-san and Crescent-chan are here too, right?"
"Yeah! This is just like a vacation, isn't it? And didn't you say you could come back whenever you wanted?" added Tatsuki, whom Ruby had invited over for dinner alongside Orihime. "Don't worry Aneki, you can leave it to me, I'll handle these guys in your place" she assured, much to Ichigo's dismay.
"And me too!" chimed in Yuzu.
"I can come over and check on things too" chimed Orihime, volunteering to help. "Sado-kun and Ishida-kun were busy with school work, but I can let them know as well. I'm sure they won't mind"
"If anything, this is way too much pampering if you ask me" she groaned. "Instead, I would love to see what kind of cool friends you have back there" smiled Karin. Ruby couldn't help but smile back in return.
It was the same, if not less eventful with Summer, although it was clear that the significance of meeting with the Soul King was much higher. Summer was sitting by the balcony of Squad 1, alongside Ukitake and Kyoraku.
"The Soul King himself? Extraordinary…" remarked Unohana, her hands pausing. It was rare to see expressions of surprise on her face, so Summer Rose took her time to relish the same.
"I don't think even the Zero Squad gets the chance to see the Soul King just like that" commented Ukitake. "I have not personally, so I can't speak for them, but he isn't a being who one can see normally"
"Then again, our Natsuko-chan is anything but normal, eh?" added Kyoraku.
"Neat huh? He even gave us the option to go back and forth between our worlds, so I can bothe–...visit you whenever you like!" she smiled back smugly.
"I am happy for you" she replied, her voice genuinely elated. She took another long sip of tea from her cup. "I still remember times all those centuries ago when you were still no better than a lost child, thrown into the midst of war. Yet, despite being separated from your husband and children, you still did everything to help out the Soul Reapers, despite this not being your world. Not to mention the ramifications that came about from being such a nameless stranger in this world. I'm happy you finally get to reunite with the rest of your family. But…you say you want to stay here with me for now. I don't understand"
"It's fine, Yachi. I just want to give my sweetie some time for herself, to catch up with her friends. I'll join her later. Of course, I do want to go and meet everyone myself, but…I want to do it when I know I will have the time there to explore as I want, so I'm not interrupted. Maybe I can even bring some of them here and introduce you guys to them" said Summer.
"Yes, I couldn't agree more! I would love to get to know your family myself" added Ukitake. "I'm not sure what rules the Soul King imposed, but if you can bring your family to visit here, that would be great"
"Ya got any good booze or women there, Natsuko-chan?" asked Kyoraku with a goofy face, and not a second later, he could feel his ear being pulled in the opposite direction.
"Good grief, you're just like Qrow" she sighed, "Yachi, I don't know a lot currently, but if it DOES come to that, I sincerely hope you have some backup for when that deadbeat oaf ends up meeting this hopeless one. I wasn't around during Qrow's formative years, but if he was my brother, I would've raised him better. I'll be sure to remember scolding Rae later. As for you, I thought I taught you better, young man" she said, pulling his ear slightly harder, ignoring the 'ow ow ow' coming from Kyoraku. "And that goes for you too, I want both of you boys to take care of yourselves even if I'm not around. I'll be sure to check on you both once in a while, got it?" she said sternly
"Yes ma'am!" came the collective reply, with Unohana pleased at the sight.
"As always, it's impossible to go against Natsuko" they both thought collectively.
As the minutes passed, Summer did eventually help out Unohana with some of the work around Squad 4, something that the latter was extremely thankful for. The same day, she decided to temporarily join in as the 4th squad's vice Lieutenant until she needed to return to Remnant with Ruby, a fact for which Isane was extremely happy about but at the same time, couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of envy. But for the most part, Unohana herself was immensely pleased.
Meanwhile, Ruby had moved over to Hueco Mundo, calling for her friends and even Urahara and Yoruichi. She was already tired from the day's events, and she didn't want to bother repeating everything twice over. In fact, she kept her story fairly condensed, mentioning only that thanks to her contribution, the Soul King provided her a way to return home, and that she would be able to return anytime she pleased. Neither was she particularly in a mood to give explanations for long, nor was she looking forward to any follow up questions they may have had.
"I promise I'll explain myself later," she told herself, exasperated. "Or I could just ask mom to brief Urahara-san about it" Indeed, it was no big deal.
"An audience with the Soul King himself…" gasped Yoruichi silently. "If Aizen could see you now.."
"You deserve it" said Nel. "You've been through a lot, and have done a lot not just for everyone"
"Indeed. Very few have even set foot within Squad 0's domain. Let alone actually meet with the Soul King. Still, I'm happy things have worked out pleasantly well for you. If anything, I'm more interested to see if the access he granted you applies only for yourself or if others are permitted to travel with you, as long as you're with them" questioned Urahara. "I was a bit surprised you would be returning alone, but with the explanation you gave, I suppose that makes sense"
Ruby's raised her eyes. "That IS true. I haven't really thought about it, but it would be interesting to find out. Perhaps I will, once I'm back there" She was tempted to tell Urahara what she learnt about Aizen, but for one, she knew that would escalate into another long set of explanations, so she decided to save it for a later time. And she could come visit anytime anyway, so she didn't feel it was anything urgent.
"Just think about home, little one. You know there's no need to worry about us. If anything, that's what I worry about" said Tier. "I do appreciate that you took the time to inform us, if anything. Even if one of your little sisters or brother could've told us later. It's also very considerate of Summer. I supposed no matter how odd she is, she is still a mother in the end. And no need to worry about your little one, Ruby. I would be more than happy to take care of her. And it seems those four agree as well" she said, pointing to the distance, where they could see Yachiru, Crescent, Lily and Captain Ukitake's twin Zanpakuto spirits, Sogyo no Kotowari, running along the dunes of Hueco Mundo, clearly absorbed in their little games.
"I would even say you don't look like you want to be here" added Ulquiorra. "I can sense a tone of urgency, perhaps even annoyance in your voice"
Blunt as always, and socially clueless I see. She sighed to herself. He does seem better at reading people however. Must be because he's learning to discover those feelings himself.
"That was a bit straightforward, but yes, I guess you're right. It's not that I don't want to be here, but…I'm just really looking forward to going back home. But of course, I wouldn't be going anywhere without telling you guys" said Ruby "And…Crescent wanted to play with her friends as well so…it was really just convenient for us"
"I wouldn't put it past Lilynette to hold onto your girl and refuse to send her back" sighed Starrk. "Not unless you took her along with you"
"Or Lieutenant Kusajishi for that matter. They even have new friends now" grinned Yoruichi. "I would advise you to step in when you need to, Ruby"
"Yeah, so just get going already, why're you even wasting time here?" asked Grimmjow. "I don't get why you need to force it if you don't want to be here"
"No tact as usual" sighed Nelliel in dismay "But he's right. You know we wouldn't think badly of that. We've known each other forever practically. I can tell you aren't too pumped up about hanging around for long as well. You did tell you wanted to go back as soon as possible"
Ruby gave a small sigh, but did return a small smile. "Figures that I can't hide anything from you guys. That would also explain the questioning looks big-sis has been giving me"
Tier nodded. "There's no need for me to say this, but whatever you decide, is for you. And you're always welcome here, you do know that, right? And you're not a youngling that needs to be tended to anymore. Whatever it is, we can lend you a helping hand, but it's up to you to decide if you want us to do so"
"Right. And as I said, I can come back whenever I want. Don't worry guys, I'll be fine" she assured once more.
It didn't take long after that for Ruby to say her final goodbyes, give her last hugs and what not, before she, Summer and Crescent found themselves at the palace of the Soul King again.
"Take care sweetie! See you soon! Have fun and don't worry about anything!" said Summer, giving a hug. Crescent then hopped up to her mother's head as well, giving another tight hug.
"Eat, sleep and play well and behave, alright?" Ruby told her young one, to which the latter gave a few head pats and then nodded.
"I'm ready" said Ruby.
"Very well" said the Soul King.
And then, everything went black.
Part 1 - End
Happy New Year and here's to new successful beginnings and endeavors and hope that we all succeed in whatever we want to do in life this year as well!
Really glad that I could time this rewrite with New Years, truly feels fitting. As you can see, the setting will be VERY different from the original writing.
This was mentioned in the 'update' chapter when the original chapters of the Remnant arc existed, but since those will be gone, in order to not confuse new readers, I can mention the relevant stuff that was mentioned there, here as well.
There were 21 chapters including this one which were part of the Remnant arc originally, but I decided to rewrite these chapters which were part of the return to Remnant arc since I felt like the direction that the story took initially didn't work out as I imagined. Hence this is a rewrite of the last arc of the fic.
So clearly, it is obvious that I am having my own take on some of the worldbuilding lore of Bleachverse, such as having the Quincy as a race of their own that form one of the major spiritual races of the world as opposed to canon Bleach where they were portrayed as being a class of 'enhance humans'. As well as the Wandenreich being the Quincy's own realm as opposed to a realm that THEY created in the shadows of the Soul Society as in Canon.
I also don't plan to involve the Royal Guard as much as the manga did, since in this story, I basically want to keep them as this 'Neutral defense force of the Soul King'. The idea is that each of the Royal Guards is a 'representative' of each of the four major races of the world, who protect the Soul King without prejudice. So in this fic, the RK consists of one Quincy, one Soul Reaper, one Hollow and one being from Hell. Since Ruby/Summer/Crescent were summoned with the consent of the God of Darkness himself, a being much greater than the Soul King and one of his creators, the RK didn't feel the need to intervene. And they do NOT play a major part in this fic. I would also like to mention that I'm not taking any reference from the CFYOW novels, so there's that too.
And this trend will also be present in Remnant, but I assure you that I will be sure to mention if there will be changes from some things established in canon. But for the most part, I plan to stick with rules established in canon for both worlds.
I do have a discord server for those interested in discussing this fic, you can simply look up the username 'vnenthusiast' in discord, and I can add you there. This is a fic I created myself for the purpose of sharing stuff related to this fic, and also if readers are interested in getting faster and more direct feedback about the story.