Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Wow, it's the 100th one! Enjoy the reading.
The past week he spent in the hospital was perhaps the most wonderful time of his life for Adam. Blake kept her promise, coming every day with a new book and helping him learn to read.
- And... the bady... - Adam struggled, stumbled, but he reached the end of the book and tried very hard.
- The lady. - Blake was always there and corrected him when he made a mistake, but she was never impatient or aggressive.
- The lady! - Adam quickly corrected and continued. - She...asbed...
- Asked. - Blake, like so many times, helped again.
- Asked! - Adam was just angry with himself, since this word had appeared so many times in the book and always mistaked it. - The... hero. Now... what... are... we... going to do? - He expected another correction from the girl, but with a confident smile and nod she indicated that he hadn't made a mistake this time and continued more confidently. - The hero... just... answered. Whatever... we... just... want.
- Very good! - Blake was impressed that Adam had successfully reached the end of the book. - You managed to read The Girl in the Tower in a week!
- You're a good teacher, Blake. - Adam closed the book tiredly but proudly and leaned back in his bed.
In order not to be bored in the hospital, Adam did everything he could to learn to read and he did better than he had hoped, since Blake always came, she was always understanding and he already knew most of the letters.
- I told you, if you give in it all, you can do it! - Blake was also pleased with Adam's progress, but for some reason the boy didn't share his joy. - What's wrong?
- I wish our case was going so well too. - Adam was angry that White Fang had still not achieved significant success.
- Yeah... - Blake shared his boyfriend's concerns and pulled back her cat ears. - I'm afraid that at this rate, people won't respect us even in our old age. But my father says that change takes time and...
- Do you believe in him? - Adam interrupted her.
- He's my father and I love him. - Blake answered firmly.
- That's not what I asked. - Adam emphasized his question and looked with one eye into the girl's yellow, worried eyes. - I asked if you believe that what he's doing is really for the good of the faunus?
- I... - Blake wanted to say yes in her heart, but she knew that her father's slow pace would lead nowhere. - I'm sure he's doing what he thinks is right.
Adam understood that Blake would certainly not speak against her father and he didn't want to force it. Instead, he asked another question.
- And what do you think of Sienna?
- Father's second in command? - Blake remembered the tiger faunus woman, loud, rough, and sometimes cruel, but people respected her. - She's a good fighter and stands up for what she believes in, but… a bit quick to judge and acts before she thinks?
- Her quick actions have saved lives many times. - Adam reminded her. - Before I was captured, your father, Sienna, and I went to a rescue mission where a group of faunus travelers were attacked by human bandits. I have every respect for your father, who tried to find a peaceful solution, but in vain. If Sienna hadn't acted in time, he would have died and many others too.
- What do you mean? - Blake didn't like it, but she understood that Adam was right somewhere.
- I know your father only means well. - Adam tried to falter, but he couldn't deny the bitter truth any longer. - But he's weak, when he should be strong. He's too kind when he should be cruel. Sienna's strong, respected by her people and can even fight for the right cause.
- You want her to be the new leader? - Blake knew what Adam was trying to get at.
- We should convince your father to resign, of his own free will and appoint Sienna as the new high leader. - Adam tried to find a peaceful solution, he didn't want to hurt his girlfriend by killing her father.
- But... father founded the White Fang, he united the faunus under one banner and in the eyes of our people he is a hero.
- I respect your father, he was there for us when we needed him, he saved our kind and for that we can be grateful. - Adam meant it completely sincerely. - But now we need Sienna.
Blake turned away in confusion, she loved her father, but Adam's words made her realize how slow it was to earn people's respect with her father's method. She hears a lot on the news about how cruelly the faunes are treated in Mistral and Atlas, even the White Fang peace demonstrations are constantly disrupted.
- Hey, - Adam took the girl's hand and pulled her closer. - I know that change is hard, but I'm sure that it's necessary. Do you believe me?
- I... - Blake was unsure, but as Adam stroked her cheek and looked confidently into her eyes, her doubts disappeared. - I think so. - The boy kissed and hugged her.
- I'll always be here and fight for you. - Adam promised, but the romantic moment was interrupted by the beeping of Adam's Scroll. - Time to change the bandage on my eye. - He nervously pressed the Scroll and stared at the girl pleadingly. - I think... you should go.
- Want me to help? - Blake suggested.
- I... - Adam looked to the side awkwardly, the scar on his eye was something he didn't want his girlfriend to see. - No. I'll handle it. - He only realized that the girl was reaching for it when she touched his cheek and turned his face towards her. Neither of them said anything, Blake just started to unroll the bandage to examine Adam's wound, but the boy grabbed her hand and stopped her. - It's quite a scary sight.
- I'm not scary. - Blake's confident smile surprised Adam, causing him to slowly release her hand and allow her to continue.
When she was finished removing the bandage, Blake took a deep breath as she completely removed it from the boy's face. Adam turned away once more, trying to hide the ugly wound from the girl as long as he could, but he knew he couldn't stall it for long, so he nervously and slowly turned his scarred face towards Blake.
Adam's left eye was covered in a large and horrific burn, the logo of SDC, the Schnee Dust Company. They branded it like farm animals in the old days. Blake wasn't horrified by the scar, but by the fact that Adam was only 14 years old and they were capable of doing this to him.
- I'm so sorry. - Blake just stroked the boy's face, but was careful not to touch the scar, because it could cause even more damage.
- Those who did this will pay. - Adam was moved by her compassion and swore to himself that one day he would kill those who had done this to him.
The red of the Crimson Forest wasn't enough to express the anger Adam felt for the girl who had betrayed him. As soon as he smelled Blake and the others on the road that led to the village of the Crimson Forest, he was like a predator caught in the scent of blood.
The creatures of the village looked at him with fear and curiosity, for wherever he went, black storm clouds followed him, blocking out the sun. Many fled to their houses or hid in alleys, behind boxes and fences, for he was a more terrifying sight than the Jabberwalker himself.
Faintly, but still, he could smell Blake and followed her towards the other exit of the village and as soon as he saw the castle over the hills, the scent disappeared, as it had recently rained, which had masked the scent.
In his anger, the storm clouds began to rumble, he roared loudly and a lightning bolt struck the field. He sat down on a log and began to think about what to do next, since after losing the scent, all chances of finding Blake were lost.
- Come this way! - He heard a male voice from one of the roads. - Someone must be very angry!
Along the road, three red-uniformed soldiers, carved from wood, rode out, on toy horses.
- Stop! - The platoon leader, as soon as he saw Adam, took out his wooden sword and ordered him. - In the name of His Majesty, you are under arrest, human!
Adam stood up in an instant, took out Wilt and shot a beam of energy above the soldiers, causing a huge explosion in the sky. The soldiers trembled and began to retreat with their toy horses.
- If any of you call me human again, I'll end you in pieces! - Adam warned them.
- Forgive me, - The platoon leader also trembled. - but you're definetely look like a human. Like ones who offended His Majesty.
- To be fair, he wasn't among them. - Another soldier whispered.
- Right! - The platoon leader tried to leave trembling and his men followed him - Have a good day, now we must...
- Where are those humans?! - Adam grabbed the platoon leader and pinned Wilt to his throat.
- We don't know! - The soldier answered. - His Majesty ordered their capture, but they escaped! The Prince may know!
- Take me to the Prince! - Adam demanded and let the soldier go.
- Right now... - The soldier obeyed stammeringly. - well... what are you?
- I am Faunus. - Adam replied, before he set off after the soldiers. - Now move forward!
- Yes, Faunus sir! - The platoon leader only showed the way to the Crimson Castle in terror.
The soldiers, although there were more of them, knew that they had no chance against Adam and felt more like prisoners than captors while they showed the way.
- Excuse me, Faunus... - One of the soldiers spoke to him fearfully, but Adam spoke angrily.
- I'm Adam!
- Excuse me, - The soldier, as much as he was frightened, was as confused. - but... you just said that you are a Faunus.
- And my name is Adam. - Adam replied, but it was clear that his patience was starting to run out.
- Then... you are an Adam Faunus? - The soldier kept trying.
- No, I'm Adam Taurus. - As long as Adam is more nervous, the soldier has become more confused.
- Just stay quiet and don't upset him! - The third soldier rather warned his curious companion, seeing how much he annoyed Adam.
- Now then, are you an Adam, Taurus or a Faunus? - Adam didn't answer, he just cut the soldier in half, causing him to fall dead to the ground and dropped his horse too.
- Any stupid question? - Adam pointed Wilt at the other two soldiers, who were looking at their companion lying dead on the ground in a state of shock. - I thought so. - He signaled for them to continue their journey.
It didn't take long for the two soldiers to lead Adam to the Crimson Castle, where upon reaching the throne room they found the Red Prince, his face still cracked and silently sulking in his throne.
- What are you doing here?! - The Prince angrily glared at the soldiers. - Have you found the damned humans who cheated to defeat me?!
- Your Majesty, - The two soldiers knelt before the short Prince. - a brutal warrior has come to you for audition!
- Another human?! - The Prince looked Adam over in disgust, but before he could say anything, the faunus appeared in front of him and pinned Wilt to his throat.
- I told your soldiers and now I'll tell you. - Adam warned, his voice completely calm. - If anyone calls me human again, he'll be torn to pieces.
- My soldiers will finish you off! - The Prince, although he was scared, tried to show confidence.
- Your soldiers won't be fast enough to save your life, Your Majesty. - Adam wasn't scared at all and still had Wilt at the Prince's throat and gave a warning look at the soldiers in the throne room, that if any of them came closer, the Prince would die.
- What do you want from me?! - The Prince asked in fear. - My crown?! The Castle?!
- None. - Adam continued. - You've had humans visit you recently, if I remember correctly.
- Damned cheaters! - The Prince was furious when he thought of Team RWBY. - They beat me at my game and ruined my birthday! I want their heads!
- You can have them. - Adam lowered Wilt, which made the Prince breathe a little easier. - Just tell me where they went.
- You want to send them to their next life? - The Prince's eyes lit up.
- Something like that. - Adam could see that the Prince didn't like people either.
- I don't know exactly where they are, - The Prince began. - but the scouts saw that they were headed for the Moon Garden, east of here.
- Fine. - Adam put Wilt away and headed for the exit.
- Um... - The Prince, as glad as he was that Adam hadn't finished him off, wanted to see the humans dead too. - Shall I give you an escort?
- They'll just hold me back. - Adam answered that, and he reached the garden and headed out of the castle gate.
- And if there's any trouble... - The Prince ran after him.
- I'll cut down anyone who stands in my way.
The Prince didn't push his luck, instead letting Adam continue his journey alone.
After leaving the Crimson Castle, Adam headed east and reached the Moon Garden Acre's bridge by sunset and sniffed around. He smelled someone, the Red Knight he had fought twice before, once at Atlas Academy and once at Amity.
Neither Blake nor the others' scent were there, so he followed the scent nervously, hoping to get the Knight to tell him where the girls were.
He walked all the way through the large, glowing mushroom forest, following the scent as he passed a large, blue mushroom with a garden around it, from where he could smell the Knight, but then continued on his way.
He followed the scent to a lake, then looked across the lake to a dock with a large red water lily flower on top, and he sensed that his destination would be the dock. He saw all sorts of creatures using water lily leaves to cross, so he boarded one, which took him to the dock.
On the other side, all sorts of strange creatures were roaming among the even stranger vendors, most of whom he didn't even know what they were, and it was hard to pinpoint one among the many smells.
He began to look around angrily, looking for the others, but in vain, he lost the scent in the market and this time there was no one to turn to for guidance. The strange, fairy-tale creatures either avoided him or hid in fear, as they could feel the anger emanating from him.
After losing all traces, Adam, seething with anger, took out Wilt and shot a beam of energy towards the lake, which, reaching the other side, cut off a huge mushroom, then knelt down and began to beat the ground angrily.
- Wow, - A sophisticated, whispering voice addressed him from his head, where he quickly lifted his head. - you are quite a troublemaker. - The Curious Cat, walking on a vine, looked down at him and smiled. Adam lifted Wilt to pin him down. - Come on, - The Cat just jumped onto the hat of a larger mushroom, then onto the ground, in front of Adam. - that won't be necessary.
- What do you want from me? - Adam demanded an answer.
- I guess you're looking for people who are like you? - The Cat just lay on the ground and rolled around a bit, but what he had to say caught Adam's attention. - Humans?
- Do you know where they are?! - Adam stepped closer to the Cat, who was just licking his paw.
- Maybe. - The Cat, after stopped licking his paw, turned his head to the side. - What do you intend to do with them?
- I'll kill them and make the life of the one who betrayed me miserable. - Adam replied, tightly gripping Wilt's grip.
- A girl who betrayed you? - The Cat just smiled evilly. - I could tell you about it.
- Where are they?! - Adam's patience began to run out and he prepared to shoot a beam of energy at Wilt.
- I could tell you, - The Cat walked behind one of the mushroom trunks and appeared above Adam's head, on a tree branch. - but what would I get?
Adam started to huff angrily, like a bull, but he took a deep breath, because he knew that this strange Cat was the only one who could help him get revenge.
- What do you want?
- Now, - The Cat jumped down from the tree, satisfied, onto Adam's shoulder. - I can talk to you sensibly! - He whispered in his ear. - I want the body of one of them.
- Two of them, - Adam replied, and the Cat jumped off him. - one has short, black hair and a pair of cat ears. The other has long, blonde hair, I want them alive. You do with the rest as you please.
- I think it's a deal. - The Cat chuckled, turned and showed the way.
Disgusting wasn't the word enough when Yang and Blake found themselves in a dark, narrow, slimy passage after the Bridge Guard had locked them in a crystal and thrown them deep into the mountain. It was a narrow passage that the two girls could only climb to who knew where.
- Why do I have to climb in slime again! - Yang felt sick to her stomach that she had to climb in a narrow, slimy and smelly place for the second time today.
- I think he literally meant that he was throwing us into the Mountain's stomach! - Blake was also at a loss for what to do and just kept climbing.
- Do you think we're heading in the right direction?! - Yang asked the question, which worried both of them.
- I have no idea... - Blake began to cough, choking from the lack of air. - but if we don't get out... we'll drown!
- I'll try something! - Yang pulled up Ember Celica on her wrist and fired one, illuminating the dark red, slimy walls, as if they were in the stomach of some creature.
- Not working! - Blake felt the slimy walls begin to close up under the impact of the shot. She took out Gumbo Shroud, which she transformed into a sword and stabbed into the wall.
- What are you doing?! - Yang was nervous.
- I'm cutting a way out! - Blake said.
- Is it working?! - Yang hoped.
- I think so! - Blake began to cut, and more slime sprayed into her face. - Help! - Once she made a long enough cut in the wall, she began to pull it apart, hoping that they could get out through it.
- I'm here! - Yang climbed back to her girlfriend and the two of them began to pull the two edges of the wound together.
They managed to pull it wide enough and Yang was the first to climb in and it kept getting deeper and deeper. Blake followed her girlfriend and hoped they could get out of this slimy stomach before they passed out from lack of air.
Yang continued to climb determinedly until she stuck her left human hand through a thicker layer and felt fresh air.
- The exit is here! - Yang gave new strength and encouraged her friend that the slimy nightmare would finally end. - Blake? - Blake didn't answer, which made Yang look back worriedly, but it was too dark to see anything. All she could feel was that Blake wasn't moving.
Panic took over Yang, she grabbed the faunus girl's arm with her robot arm, while her human hand reached out again on the outside of the slimy wall, grabbed what she could and started to pull herself and Blake with all her remaining strength.
They got closer and closer to the exit and some light filtered through the hole. As she stuck her head out and gasped for fresh air with relief and panting, she knew she couldn't rest yet. She pulled half of her body out onto the ground and so on until only her legs were left in the hole, then she started to pull Blake out as well.
The faunus girl, like her, was completely covered in mucus, but Yang was horrified to realize that she wasn't breathing. She didn't think when she laid Blake on her back, then placed her mouth on her and began to perform artificial respiration, then began to press on her chest to revive her.
She repeated this three times, when Blake's eyes popped open and he began to rapidly gasp for air and remembered what had happened.
- Blake! - Yang hugged her girlfriend in relief, who gratefully returned the gesture.
- You saved me... - Blake's heart began to calm down, although it was quite a terrifying experience to temporarily die.
- I won't leave you, - Yang began to stroke the girl's back with teary eyes and thanked any higher power that hadn't taken her from her. - ever.
- Thank you. - Blake whispered gratefully and kissed Yang.
As soon as they finished hugging and kissing, they looked around to see where they had ended up. They were in an underground cave, the walls of which had glowing crystals growing out of them, illuminating the passage.
They looked back at the hole they had climbed out of and saw that it wasn't a living creature, but simply the wall of the cave. They looked around anxiously, afraid that if they dug another hole, everything would be covered in slime.
- You think... - Yang stood up tiredly and looked in the only possible direction. - we should leave?
- I don't think we have any other option? - Blake joined him and the two girls began their journey together, hand in hand, through the cave passage.
At the end of the tunnel, they found an altar with a shining crystal mirror on it. The two girls approached it curiously, but when they looked into it, they didn't see their own reflection, but a space gate, somewhere in Ever After.
- Do you think this is it? - Yang asked her girlfriend curiously.
- The Mirror of the True Heart. - Blake touched the Mirror and the two girls saw a big flash and they disappeared.
The sound of the underground river was mixed with the echo of dozens of hammers, when Jaune and Weiss found themselves together in a mine where the strange fairy creatures were working.
- Is it just me, or do these creatures not know what they are supposed to be doing? - Weiss looked around in confusion at the hard-working miners, who were digging the many gold and silver ores underground and placing boulders at the ends of the passages, filling them with them.
- I've been in the Ever After for twenty years, but I've never seen anything like this. - Jaune didn't understand that the liquid gold coming out of the smelter was transported in a sluice and poured into a hole to be sent back underground, cooled, and hardened.
At a large table filled with solid gold jewelry, a group of mining creatures used tweezers and metal cutting shears to remove the embedded gems and pearls, while on the other side they were being cut into pieces.
At a blacksmith's anvil, a miner used a hammer to break up the many colored gems and put the pieces into a bag.
- Jaune, - Weiss felt it was time to have this conversation. - what are you going to do if we find a way out?
- What are you talking about? - Jaune just shook his head as they went up to one of the upper floors.
- About the Paper Pleasers' village. - Weiss clarified. - Are you staying here to take care of them, or are you coming with us?
- Well... - Jaune had never thought that if they found their way to Remnant, he might have to say goodbye to his paper friends he had taken care of for so long. - I don't know...
- We might never be able to come back. - Weiss told the painful truth. - And we can't stay here to babysit them.
- Yeah... - Jaune just clenched his hands into fists and closed his eyes. - but even then... maybe...
- This isn't healthy, Jaune. - Weiss was worried about the boy. - You have to let them go. You're hurting yourself and them.
- What are you talking about? - Jaune's eyes widened. - It's not about the Tree again, is it?!
- I'm just telling you what they told us. - Weiss knew she couldn't put it off. - They were just pretending to be clumsy the whole time. - Jaune opened his mouth and shook his head in denial. - They want to go to the Tree more than anything and they didn't tell you because they're too kind and didn't want to hurt you.
- No! - Jaune couldn't accept it. - They don't know what they're talking about! You saw how clumsy and stupid they are!
- When they talked to us, they weren't as stupid as they were with you. - Weiss didn't give up.
- I think, - Before an argument could break out between the couple, Jaune took the lead and headed towards one of the cave passages. - it's better if we split up for a bit now.
- Jaune... - Weiss reached out worriedly after her boyfriend, who was visibly offended.
The girl headed towards another cave passage, hoping to find the others, the exit, or the Mirror of the True Heart.
The tunnel was dark, but the girl lit up with her Scroll and kept going. After a few minutes of walking, she saw a light in the distance and as she turned a corner, she saw an altar with a glowing mirror on it, which was also the source of the light.
- Jaune, I found it! - She shouted back, but she was sure Jaune didn't hear her.
She didn't want to leave the Mirror behind, so she thought she would take it with her and find Jaune. Whens he got closer to the Mirror, she didn't see her own reflection, but the floating city of Atlas, in all its glory. She shook her head in confusion, then touched it and was blinded by a flash of white.
The next moment, she was no longer in the cave, but at a ceremony where a bunch of soldiers, officers, Hunters, and Huntresses had gathered to celebrate. Weiss looked around carefully and saw that they were in the Amity training ground, high in the air.
She turned and the Mirror was behind her, on a wall and this time it had a portal in it.
- Weiss! - A familiar voice called out from among the many happy celebrants. - Where did you go?
- Winter? - Weiss could hardly believe her eyes when she saw her sister. - What are you doing here?
- What are you talking about? - Winter shook her head in confusion. - I thought I would visit my sister, without whom we probably wouldn't have defeated Salem. - She proudly placed her hand on her shoulder and it was very nice for Weiss to see her sister's appreciative smile, but something wouldn't let her rest.
- We defeated Salem? - Weiss could hardly believe her ears.
- Of course, - Winter just nodded. - you and your friends convinced the general to believe that we could fight Salem and win.
- But... - Weiss still couldn't get what had happened in the past few days out of her head. - Atlas crashed and was destroyed.
- Last time I saw, - General Ironwood stepped out of the celebrating crowd and smiled at the girl just as approvingly as her sister. - it was still in the air. I admit, you and your friends came up with a risky plan, but we won. Salem was defeated for good.
- Thanks to you and Team RWBY! - Another person Weiss thought she would never see again happily came to her from the crowd.
- Penny? - Weiss could hardly believe that the girl who Jaune had said was dead was now standing in front of her, as a human. - No! - She shook her head, knowing that what she was seeing couldn't be true.
- Yes, Weiss! - Penny seemed as full of life as usual. - You saved me! You and Ruby! Finally, I can experience what it's like to be human and I have you all to thank for that!
- But this is... - Weiss's mind and heart were in a serious dilemma. Her heart wanted to believe that her home and her friend were saved, but her mind knew that was impossible.
- Wonderful? - Winter finished for her, but Weiss saw a flicker of light from the corner of her eye and saw the Mirror, its light growing dimmer and perhaps disappearing soon. - You could stay here.
- This isn't reality! - Weiss realized.
- But it could be. - Ironwood joined in. - You could be happy here, with your loved ones and your home.
- My home... - Weiss started toward the Mirror, but paused for a moment. - My home is where my friends are! - She drew her sword, turned, and pointed it at them. - I became Huntress so I could shape my destiny and not have others give it to me! I won't give up what I have worked so hard for!
- But... - Penny didn't understand why she wanted to leave. - You could be happy here.
- I'll take care of my happiness! - Weiss lowered her sword and headed back towards the Mirror, in which she could still see the space gate.
As soon as she touched it, a blinding light flashed and took the girl away.
Jaune walked through the mine shafts in a daze, the Paper Pleasers had saved his life, taken him in and given him a home over the years. The only thing he could do for them was to protect them at all costs, but his girlfriend wanted him to leave them here.
He didn't know what to expect when the RWBY team arrived. He hoped they would understand how important the Paper Pleasers' village was to him, but all he got from his friends was disrespect and they thought he was crazy.
He saw a light glimmering in the dark shaft of the tunnel and picked up a faster pace. He turned the next corner and saw an altar with a glowing mirror on it, illuminating the cave.
He saw fire in the Mirror, a nice campfire he would like to sit down after a tiring journey. He touched the Mirror, and then a white flash blinded him.
The next moment he found himself in a forest, where the breeze was blowing pleasantly, birds were chirping happily and flowers were blooming everywhere and a pleasant scent mixed with the natural scent of the forest.
He smelled smoke and saw that a campfire was burning a few hundred meters away. It was the exact same campfire he had seen in the Mirror, but this time they were sitting around it.
Jaune started towards the campfire, but when he saw who were sitting around it, his breath caught.
- You're back, Jaune?! - Penny was one of the ones who waved at him.
- It took a long time. - - A dark-skinned, curly-haired, bespectacled boy laughed, who was none other than Lewis.
- I hope it was no problem. - And the third was Pyrrha, who smiled kindly at him.
- Pyrrha... - Jaune could hardly believe his eyes, the girl who sacrificed herself to save him was sitting in front of him, unharmed. - Penny... - The girl he killed with his own hands to save thousands was here and healthy. - Lewis... - The boy he couldn't save was stirring the soup in the pot over the fire and was alive. - How is that possible?
- We made a fire while you went to pee. - Penny explained as if she was completely.
- Dinner will be ready soon. - Lewis pointed to the stew, which had a pleasant smell.
- Sit down. - Pyrrha motioned for the boy to sit next to him. - You must be very tired.
- You... - Jaune could barely find the words when his dead friends he had abandoned were here now, laughing and having a good time. - How are you alive?
- Why shouldn't we? - Penny tilted her head to the side curiously.
- Because you... - Jaune could barely bring himself to say what he was thinking. - you died.
His three friends looked at each other curiously and didn't understand what he was talking about.
- Maybe you had a strange dream, Jaune. - Pyrrha stood up, stroking the bearded man's face, whose heart also broke at the sight of the girl.
- I know this isn't real. - Jaune knew this was some kind of test. - But still... I wanted to tell you... - He looked at Penny and Lewis. - I wanted to tell you all that I'm sorry.
- What are you talking about? - Pyrrha didn't understand.
- I tried, Pyrrha... - Jaune's tears welled up. - I tried...
- Tried what? - Pyrrha asked sadly.
- To become the man you saw me. - Jaune sobbed as he hugged the girl. - I wanted to tell you how much it meant that you helped me at Beacon. That you believed in me and didn't give up on me. And I want you to know, every day I wish I could have gone to the tower with you... but I understand that you saved my life that day.
- Come on, Jaune, - Pyrrha blushed and returned the boy's hug and whispered in his ear. - I'm sure you would have done the same.
- Lewis... - Jaune, after finishing hugging Pyrrha, turned to the boy. - I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.
- Maybe you were smoking weed with Herb again? - Lewis felt a little embarrassed by the Knight's emotional expression.
- I felt something change in Alyx, I just wanted to believe in her. - Jaune clenched his hands into fists and blamed himself. - If I had been more careful with her, maybe she wouldn't have been able to poison me, I could have gone with you and stopped Alyx from killing me.
- Okay, you're starting to scare me. - Lewis looked at Jaune strangely.
- Penny... - Jaune's heart sank as he turned to the other girl.
- Jaune, are you okay? - Penny took the boy's hand in hers, worried.
- Every day I see myself dipping my blade into you. - Jaune couldn't hold it in anymore without crying. - I know it was your decision, but even then I couldn't forgive myself. - He shook his head and finally, he could let out all the pain that had been building up. - I wish there was some way I could save you!
- It's been a long day, Jaune. - Penny pointed to the fire. - Sit down and eat.
- We'll have to be up early tomorrow to stop the first fire. - Lewis reminded him. - You know how clumsy these Paper Pleasers are.
- The... Paper Pleasers? - Jaune, as if it were a foreign term to him.
- You know, - Pyrrha laughed. - Neptune is so clumsy. It's like we have a bunch of children.
- Children? - Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other and it was clear that Pyrrha would be happy to stay here with him and maybe even be willing to give birth to a child for him.
- Why not? - Pyrrha shrugged and stroked Jaune's cheek again. - We could stay here forever. Here we are safe from Salem and we could even start a family.
- This isn't reality. - Jaune wiped away his tears.
- But it could be. - Pyrrha added.
- No... - Jaune wished he could have saved his friends. - I can't! If I stayed here, I would be betraying you! You didn't die to spend my days in a fairy tale world and babysit a bunch of paper stars! - He looked at the girl and knew he had to let her go. - Pyrrha... I met someone else. Know that I locked you in my heart forever, but a lot of time has passed and I know that I can protect her.
- Is this what you want, Jaune? - Pyrrha was sad that the boy was gone, but she understood.
- I have to do this, Pyrrha. - Jaune was completely confident. - I won't let your sacrifice be for nothing.
- You could be happy here. - Penny tried to console him.
- I couldn't live happily if I knew that I let my friends down. - Jaune walked on, back to the Mirror.
- We don't have to part. - Lewis tried.
- One day we will meet again and I will tell the real Lewis, Penny and Pyrrha, - Jaune stopped and looked at his friends. - that their sacrifice wasn't in vain.
Jaune felt like he had become a new person when he stood in front of the Mirror and saw in it the space gate that could lead him out of Ever After. He touched it and a flash blinded him.
Thousands of mirrors shattered in the rampage of the Jabberwalker pack. Neo desperately wanted to find the Mirror of the True Heart that would lead her to the exit, but in vain. She and Ruby were in a maze of thousands of mirrors and they simply couldn't find the exit anywhere.
- Neo, slow down! - Ruby tried anxiously to stop the Jabberwalkers, but in vain, Neo didn't even hear.
Ruby, realizing that there was no point in talking to Neo, tried to find the exit on her own, but when she reached a corridor that hadn't fallen victim to Neo's Jabberwalker pack, she decided to go through it.
The mirrors in the corridor were strange, in the first mirror she saw herself, but she was small, her insanely large head was bigger than her entire body, she had short arms and stubby legs, even had a tiny replica of Crescent Rose. Ruby just shook her head smiling and in the next mirror her gray-haired, wrinkled old self looked back.
She found the mirrors a bit amusing, some showed her as a child, as fat, as a boy or naked.
Ruby couldn't help but look at each version of her in each mirror when she entered one of the corridors and found another mirror. This mirror was on an altar and was lit up and when Ruby stepped in front of it she didn't see herself in it.
It was the Vytal festival, when Penny and Pyrrha fought each other and when Emerald tricked Pyrrha into tearing Penny to pieces with her illusion.
Ruby didn't hesitate and immediately took the mirror, which blinded her with a white flash.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself back at the Vytal festival, in the stands, in a crowd, next to a young version of Lance.
- Really! It's her! - Young Lance looked curiously at Emerald on the other side of the arena. - You have good eyes.
- What? - Ruby shook her head in confusion.
- Emerald! - Lance reminded her. - You found her!
Ruby was a little confused, since Emerald was already on their side, but she remembered that at the Vytal festival, it was because of her illusion that Penny was torn to pieces.
- Mike, you stay here! - Lance instructed his fat teammate and started walking. - Are you coming, Ruby? - Lance turned to her.
- Come this way! - Ruby knew that Lance wanted to go through the service corridor, which was the fastest way to the other side of the arena, but she knew that Mandy and Mercury were waiting there. She started in the other direction.
- Hey, it's longer that way! - Lance shouted after him, but Ruby didn't hear him and just pushed through the crowd. Lance was clearly following her.
- And the next contestants, Penny Pollendina from Atlas, - She heard Professor Port announce and her heart beat faster and faster. - and her opponent, Pyrrha Nikos from Vale!
Ruby had already covered half the distance when she activated her Semblance and rushed at full speed towards Emerald to disrupt her illusion.
In the arena, Penny raised her eight swords, which she pointed at Pyrrha and a clear panic appeared on Pyrrha's face. Ruby, as fast as she could, ran to save her friend.
As soon as Emerald came into her sight, she was clearly so focused on maintaining her illusion that she didn't pay attention to anything else.
- STOP! - She rushed towards Ruby, threw herself at her and both girls fell to the ground.
- What are you doing?! - Emerald pushed Ruby off her indignantly, who didn't care at all about her outburst and quickly looked towards the arena.
Unfortunately, she was too late. Pyrrha had already shot the magnetic wave and Penny fell victim to her own swords and was torn to pieces just like before.
Ruby just looked at the girl in shock, whom she couldn't save again.
She didn't have much time to think about it, because this time she was in Beacon, in the front yard, on the night of the attack. There were flames everywhere, smoke was spreading, destroyed robots and corpses were lying around.
- It's Jaune! - Weiss and Lynda were also there next to her and her teammate picked up her Scroll. - Where are you?!
- Weiss! - Jaune's voice was heard, but he was completely desperate and spoke incoherently. - Please, you have to stop me!
- What?
- Pyrrha! She went after that woman… on top of the tower! She has no chance! – The girls looked towards the CCT-tower, but they didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
- We have to go! - Ruby knew exactly that Pyrrha was up there, fighting Cinder.
- But... Ruby! - Weiss tried to reach for her team captain in confusion.
Ruby reached the tower and remembered that last time Weiss helped her get to the top of the tower, but this time she used her Semblance to get there.
- Do you believe in fate? - Just like last time, Pyrrha knelt in front of Cinder.
- Yes. - Cinder summoned a black glass bow, which she attached a glass arrow to and pulled up.
- NO! - Ruby took out her scythe and attacked Cinder.
- What the... - Cinder didn't understand how the girl who pushed her and the arrow went astray got here.
- Pyrrha, run away! - Ruby shouted.
- No... - Pyrrha stood up and despite her lack of aura, she was ready to continue fighting Cinder. - I have to stop her.
- She'll kill you! - Ruby tried to warn her.
- I don't care... - Before Pyrrha could continue, a black glass arrow pierced her chest.
- Touching, - Cinder grinned evilly. - but death is still death. - She walked over to the dying girl, whom she had pulverized in front of Ruby just like she had in Beacon.
Ruby was once again overwhelmed by grief and disappointment for not being able to protect her friend again. But this pain managed to ignite her Silver Eyes again and blinded her with great whiteness.
She relived the most terrible moments of her past over and over again, blaming herself for not being able to save those she loved and failing just as many times. The battle in the gateway, Penny's second death, Nora's injury and their fall into the Ever After.
- It's really her! - She found herself back in the stands of the Vytal festival when she spotted Emerald. - You have good eyes. - Ruby had heard it a dozen times before, but this time she lowered her head sadly, knowing perfectly well how it would end. - Let's go ask her what happened.
- No. - Ruby just shook her head. She knew it was completely unnecessary, no matter what they did, Penny would end up in pieces.
- But... Ruby... - Lance didn't understand, Ruby, who had wanted so much to find out what was going on in Beacon, had now completely given up.
- No way to stop it, Lance. - Ruby just shook her head. - It's going to happen anyway.
- What are you talking about?! - Lance was getting more and more nervous.
- Just wait and see. - Ruby looked towards the arena, where Penny and Pyrrha had started fighting each other again.
- You wait if you want! - Lance didn't listen to her and headed towards the staff corridor. - I'll find out what's going on!
Ruby just sat idly and watched the fight and already knew the horrible outcome, which she had watched a dozen times and had never been able to prevent.
Penny got finished off in pieces again and she couldn't protect her.
She realized that in those situations she had made the best possible decisions that the circumstances and the knowledge at her disposal offered. She had learned to accept the past and when the cycle began again, she saw the Mirror that had sent her here. She saw the space gate in it, which was the exit to Ever After.
She touched it and a white flash blinded her.
Neo was increasingly desperate to find the exit to the mirror maze, her Jabberwalkers smashing the many mirrors to smithereens by the thousands, the shards of which piled up on the ground. The girl, despite how nervous she was, followed her summoned creatures with elegant and measured steps down the corridor and didn't care that Ruby had left her here for a while.
The only thing floating before her eyes was to get out of the Ever After and go after Roman.
It's not known how many hours she searched for the Mirror of the True Heart and how many thousands of mirrors she broke in her search, when she was tired and gave up hope, she knelt on the ground and tears welled up in her eyes. She sat in front of one of the mirrors, wrapped her arms around her knees and put her head between them. Her Jabberwalkers fell to pieces and disappeared.
- It seems there is no way out of here, Neo. - The clone Roman, whom she had unknowingly summoned, came to her. - You won't find the exit and you won't save me. - He sat down next to her and put his arms around her. - I'm not angry. - He lifted her sad face and wiped away her tears. - I know you did everything, but I think this was too much for you. - Out of the corner of her eye, Neo saw a flash of light from the remaining mirrors. - Or not? - The clone Roman helped Neo up, who ran more confidently towards the light.
She turned into a corridor and among the many mirror walls saw an altar on which a much more ornately framed, illuminated mirror was placed. Neo was sure that this was the Mirror of the True Heart. She saw in it the portal that led out of the Ever After.
She touched it and a flash blinded her.
The next moment she found herself in a damp, earthy cave where the large and thick roots of a tree had penetrated.
- Did you find it? - Ruby, the group and Jaune also came to this place at the same time.
- This was quite a strange adventure. - Yang led the way and as she moved forward, the sunlight filtered more and more through the roots and the leaves of the Tree also fell in.
- Look! - Weiss found a familiar wooden statue from which she pulled a twig.
- The Herbalist? - Ruby recognized the caterpillar creature that tried to help them, but the floor opened up under it and crushed it.
They got out of the cave and the sun was shining brightly.
- I think I got it. - Jaune got the point. - The Mirror of the True Heart is not a relic, but a kind of embodiment of the Tree, which helps us accept the past, offers a choice between the easy and the right path and reflects what our hearts truly desire. And that is why it brought us here.
Suddenly, the wooden statue of the Herbalist cracked, then split open and a blinding yellow light erupted from it, and the Herbalist reappeared. Instead of the caterpillar's lower body, this time he had grown normal legs and dark blue and black butterfly wings. He stretched pleasantly, as if he had just woken up from an afternoon nap and was flying away with his new wings to fulfill his new purpose.
- Do you think this is the ascension that the Cat spoke of? - Ruby and the others were also impressed by what they saw.
- Then that means... - Jaune finally understood that this was what the Paper Pleasers wanted too. - that all along I was just holding them back. I was so desperate to save someone that I was actually just holding them back from becoming what they were meant to be.
- This thing isn't up to us. - Weiss placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. - We have no right to stop other's decisions.
- Just like we can't change the past. - Ruby understood too.
- Look! - Yang and Blake continued on and found something amazing.
- I think this is it! - Blake also shouted confidently.
- The way home! - Jaune, after twenty years of hopeless wandering, was very happy to finally get home.
- It took you quite a while to get here. - A frighteningly familiar voice hit the ears of the group and from behind one of the large roots came the person they had forgotten about until now and stood in front of the space gate.
- Adam! - Blake immediately took out Gumbo Shroud, as the others prepared their weapons.
- I told you, Blake, - Adam just smiled confidently, holding Wilt's hilt. - I will follow you anywhere. Even to this strange fairy tale world. Finally, - He laughed pleasantly. - my hunt is over.
- Would you open your eyes?! - Yang started to tremble again, but the presence of her friends gave her enough confidence. - We are six against one!
- Hm, - Adam still just smiled and crossed his arms. - what do you think, who showed me the shortcut? - He looked up at a branch of the tree and then the others looked in that direction.
- Lance? - Ruby looked at the Red Knight curiously and worriedly. His familiar, worn, dented armor, which was missing its right shoulder plate.
- Lance, if you knew where the exit was, why didn't you tell me?! - Yang demanded an answer angrily.
- And why did you help Adam?! - Blake also felt betrayed.
- Guys, - Ruby began to worry as she saw a pair of glowing blue eyes behind Lance's helmet visor. - I don't think that's Lance.
- Excellent observation, Ruby. Rose. Huntress. - Although Lance's body was moving, it wasn't his voice at all, it was the Curious Cat's.
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