Rage & Hope: A RWBY Story

Chapter One Hundred Twenty Seven - The End Of One Journey

As Razer and the others cross the door, they appear and land in the spiritual plane of the Tree. They walk and see the Blacksmith in their forge. The Blacksmith whittles a wooden figurine of the Hawker and places it with the other figurines of the Afterans.

Blacksmith: Welcome...to my workshop.

Blake: Um, Ruby, is this the Tree?

Ruby: Something like that.

Jaune approaches the Blacksmith.

Blacksmith: I've been waiting a long time for you.

Jaune: Well, I made it.

Blacksmith: I'm glad you did.

Jaune: Can you....answer a question for me? I need to know if it's true what the Cat said that Lewis went back and...Alyx....

Blacksmith: Yes. Only Lewis returned home. The Girl Who Fell Through the World is the story as he wished it happened.

As the Blacksmith walks around the table, two figurines of two certain familiar dragons are seen on the table.

Razer: What are those?

Ruby: The Brothers.

Blacksmith: Yes. These Brothers were the Tree's earliest blossoms and the first to inhabit the Ever After. Remarkable beings, very ambitious. The Tree did not perceive what they would become. But that is the joy of creating. The not knowing. First, they were given the power to destroy, to clear the wilderness away. Then they were given creativity, to imagine what -- and who -- could replace the wilderness. The Brothers built homes for them, and gave them roles to play. And so, using the skills and tools they have been given, they began to design their own creations....in utmost secrecy. Soon they realized their new creation could do their job for them.

It was at this moment that they learned that this creation was in fact the Curious Cat. At the same time, they also learned that the Jabberwalker was created for a similar purpose.

Yang: So how did they get to Remnant?

Blacksmith: The Ever After could no longer bear the Brothers' experiments. And so, the Tree built them a special doorway to a greater beyond where the Brothers could try creating worlds of their own. A doorway that would remain open for the Brothers' return, and any of their creations. And what truly remarkable things they accomplished. Whenever the Brothers' creations have come to the Ever After, the five of you have had a greater impact than you know. Just like Alyx and Lewis did before you. Just like others will after you. One small kindness in one small moment would be such a marvelous transformation.

Ruby smiles at Somewhat's figurine with tears welling up in her eyes. She then sees Penny's figurine and begins weeping. Aya places her hand on Ruby's shoulder to comfort her.

Blacksmith: Much like one act of dishonesty...caused an unfortunate change....

Jaune: Alyx broke her promise to the Cat.

Blacksmith: A terrible thing to have a broken heart... And there's nobody to send them back to the Tree for repair.

Ruby: But what will happen to Neo?

Blacksmith: She will have the chance to return her broken heart... And becomes something new. Such is balance.

As the Blacksmith holds a knife, Jaune recognizes it.

Jaune: That's Alyx's knife. Wait, how did you have this?

Blacksmith: When Alyx's life ended, she chose to leave a part of herself behind. A wish to fix what she had broken.

Jaune takes Alyx's knife and is engulfed by a glowing light. An apparition of Alyx appears, smiling. After Alyx's apparition, along with the light, disappears, Jaune is now back to his younger self, with an exception of white streaks on his hair. Jaune becomes overjoyed.

Jaune: I....I can't believe it. It's been so.... This....is what I sounded like?

Weiss laughs. As the group takes the time to process this, the Blacksmith summons a portal, resembling the ones made by Ambrosius previously.

Ruby: Where will this take us?

Blacksmith: Not where, when you are needed most.

As they prepared to walk through the portal, Razer stops.

Ruby: Razer?

Razer paused as he looked down on his depowered Red Lantern Ring.

Razer: For the longest time, I thought I would be forever cursed to wield this Ring.

Yang: Why do you still have it? Why don't you just chuck it?

Razer: This Ring has caused me great pain for a long time. I will not allow this Ring to inflict the pain that I have endured. I will keep the Ring.

As Razer said this, Aya placed her hand on Razer's shoulders.

Aya: You have earned this, Razer. I am happy for you.

Saint Walker: We all are, Razer.

Razer: I have you all to thank. Had it not been for all of you, I would have remained bound to my rage.

Saint Walker: Hope was always within you, Razer. You always had the capacity to inspire great hope. We all simply guided you to where you needed to be.

Razer smiled as he looked at his Blue Lantern Ring. For the first time in a long time, he had hope in not only the fight, but in himself. He looked at Aya, Saint Walker and the others, deeply grateful for all that they have done for him throughout his journey. Aya, Saint Walker, Team RWBY and Jaune smiled at the Blue Lantern.

Razer: Let's go home.

With that, the group walked through the doorway. They soon find themselves in the deserts of Vacuo. They see the capital city in the distance, with Shade Academy towering over the kingdom. In the skies above, there are various airships from Vale, Mistral, and Atlas, as well as a retrofitted Amity Colosseum/Tower. The group look upon the impressive sight as the portal closes behind them. In that moment, Razer and Aya along with Saint Walker, Team RWBY and Jaune had returned to Remnant.