Rage & Hope: A RWBY Story

Chapter One Hundred Seven - A Place Of Particular Concern

After Razer, Aya and Saint Walker reunited with Ruby, Weiss and Blake, Little began guiding the group through the forest. Halfway there, Little snoring in Ruby's hood. Ruby smiles at them while Weiss is trying to swat away an insect with rocking horse legs.

Weiss: Or I guess we could figure it out ourselves.

Blake: At least they got us to this path. We need to hurry. Yang's been down here the longest and we still haven't found her.

Ruby: Weiss, I was wondering... if you fell, then are there others down here too? What happened?

Weiss is silent for a moment.

Weiss: I don't know if anyone else fell, no. I think we should find Yang, if she's even down here. Then we can go over everything.

Ruby: What about you, Aya? Can you tell us anything about what happened after we....fell?

Razer: I was locked in battle with Atrocitus. During our fight, he attacked Aya, rendering her unconscious. When I rushed in after her, I was attacked from behind. That's when I fell. 

Suddenly, the group hear a roar in the distance. They run up to the top of the cliff and notice a strange, purple, masked creature twitching.

Creature: Seeking... Searching... Scouring... Stalking... Searching... Scouring... Stalking...

Little gasps and hides in Ruby's cloak. The creature hears them.

Creature: Detecting... Listening...

Everyone prepared their weapons. Ruby tries to reach behind her, but Crescent Rose is still missing. They keep their distance as the creature faces them. It then proceeds to charge forward.

Creature: DANGER! DEATH!

Blake jumps forward.

Creature: BITE! RIP! TEAR!

The creature swipes its claw at Blake, but she blocks it with Gambol Shroud. Weiss runs forward to assist, but stops suddenly.

???: I said I wasn't done with you yet!

A large rock is thrown at the creature, who jumps away from Blake after the rock hits them. Razer charges in and vomits acidic plasma onto the creature. The creature howls in pain as it swats Razer away. At the same time, Yang joins the others in surrounding the creature.

Creature: Recede... Retreat... Wait... Return.

The creature makes their retreat as it jumps high to the next cliff and disappears into the forest. Razer attempts to chase after the creature, but Saint Walker stops him.

Razer: That thing needs to be dealt with!

Saint Walker: Chasing after it may not be wise. It could be trying to lure us into a trap. Let it go....for now.

Yang pants heavily and ends up kneeling, exhausted. Ruby runs towards Yang.

Ruby: Yang! I–

Yang: Dammit! You weren't supposed to be here...

Ruby kneels down next to Yang.

Ruby: If you thought we wouldn't come for you, then you must've forgotten who raised me.

Yang sighs.

Ruby: What happened to your arm?

Yang: I don't think you'd believe me if I told you....

Razer: You'd be surprised. 

Yang: You three as well? Damn. How the hell did Cinder....

Aya: It seems we were attacked by both Atocitus and Cinder.

Saint Walker: I willingly jumped.

Upon hearing this, Team RWBY was shocked.

Yang: You're telling me....you jumped?

Saint Walker: I cannot explain it, but my instincts told me that I must fall.

Weiss: I sort of thought you'd be a little happier to see us.

Yang: I am... It's just... It must have gone pretty bad, huh?

Ruby and Blake look at Yang. Blake looks back at Ruby before they turn to see Weiss beginning to break down in tears.

Ruby: Weiss...

Weiss: I... Everything happened so fast. No one came back from Vacuo to help... And Penny! She-- Jaune tried to help, but... she sacrificed herself!

Upon hearing this, Aya was shocked. It was in that moment that Aya's memory of that battle had been restored. 

Aya: Processing....processing....processing.....

As Aya processed this, she dropped to her knees, showing great distress at this. Ruby, wide-eyed, listens to Weiss of what happened, her words slowly being muted out as she continues speaking, but suddenly ends up passing out until she hits the ground. Later, the group began discussing their current situation. It's raining again.

Yang: So, we have no idea what happened to the Relic? Or what happened to everyone in Vacuo? Or where Neo is?

Blake: Maybe everyone else made it?

Weiss: I don't know, but I have a bad feeling.

Razer: And then there's the matter of the Red Lanterns. There's no telling what kind of damage they're doing. 

Little is fanning Ruby with a small piece of grass as Ruby regains her consciousness.

Ruby: Neo's here too.

Yang: Hey, are you alright?

Ruby doesn't immediately answer.

Ruby: She attacked me when we were falling.

Razer: She's right. I've detected another Red Lantern Ring in this place. 

Blake: Okay. Ruby's weapon is still missing. Yang's arm was stolen. I think we focus on getting everything back, then we can figure out exactly how to get out of here.... Wherever here is....

Suddenly, the rain stops and rays shine on Blake. She walks towards the source of light.

Weiss: But, what if we can't leave? Or, what if--

Yang: What if we're dead? Until you all found me, I thought for sure I was.

Razer: The last I checked, our Rings are bound to living hosts. 

Aya: And as an android, life and death are....different. 

Saint Walker: Which means we're most certainly alive. Now the question is where we are. 

Blake: I know how it sounds, but....

As Blake pushes away the vines a little, she looks to the giant tree in the center of the land.

Blake: I think we're in a fairy tale.

Peeking over the hill, the giant tree is surrounded by many other unusual environments: a red forest with a red castle, an area of creamy dessert and sweets, a forest with giant colorful mushrooms, among other things.