Arc:reactors

Ruby rushed into the room where Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Qrow were at. A flurry of rose petals fluttered into the room with her as she saw them all sitting on chairs.

“I came as soon as I read the text! What’s going o-” That’s when Ruby saw a woman with long white hair. However, she did not mistake her for Weiss or her sister Winter. Especially considering how the woman has a black trench coat with a red sash, a black and gold cap, and having the most unusual combination of red and blue colored eyes, one outer section being red, the other inner section was blue. “Who are you?” Ruby asked.

“That’s what we’ve been trying to ask her the whole day.” Qrow dryly said as he sipped another drink from his flask, laying back on the chair.

“And she refused to speak to us until you’re here.” Jaune added.

“I take it you’re the leader of Team RNJR?” The woman asked.

“Erm… Yes. I am.” Ruby said.

“Good. I have a proposition to offer you.” The woman walked to Ruby and smirked. “Do you recall the losses you endured?” She asked. Ruby tensed for a moment as she began to remember the deaths of Penny, Pyrrha, and even Roman. She even began to remember Yang’s dismemberment. “You do. I can offer you a means to get back at the people who took them away.” Qrow raised an eyebrow.

“So, you want to help us fight Cinder?” Ruby asked. The woman shook her head.

“No. I’m of course talking of the gods who made her do what she did in the first place.” She said.

“So Salem?” Qrow asked.

“Not her either. I know it’ll be confusing to wrap your heads around, but there is a world where gods live. They allow every bad thing to happen to all of you for the entertainment of others.” She said.

“Oh joy, a door-to-door preacher.” He said. The woman only glared at him before looking at Ruby again.

“Do you want the authors to all your pain get away scot-free while this world is on the brink of war?” She sternly asked.

“We don’t want Remnant to go to ruin, yes, but this whole thing about gods is so confusing!” Nora held her head.

“I know. I had trouble wrapping my head around it too when I first realized this. But Ruby Rose, this is a once in a life time opportunity. To meet your maker and have them pay for the crimes they committed onto you.” She said.

“What do you want us to do, exactly?” Ren spoke up.

“I want to ask her permission to take you to the world of gods.” She said.

“What!?” All of Team RNJR shouted.

“Absolutely not! You are not taking my Renny!” Nora growled.

“Why him, exactly?” Jaune asked.

“… He… He has a special connection to the world of gods. A connection no other person I’ve encountered has. If he were to come with me, then we might be able to get to them quicker.” She said.

“Look, I appreciate your offer, but we’re currently on a quest right now and-” Ruby spoke up, only for the woman to stare at her.

“These gods also have crucial information that you lack. Can you face betrayal again, Ruby Rose?” She asked.

“What the hell are you inquiring?” Qrow leaned forward.

“I’m saying that the gods have a devastating path planned out for you all. The only way to get them to realize the error of this path is for one of you to convince them to stop. And I believe Lie Ren will be the perfect person for this job.” She said.

“Convince them? Look, I don’t know what you’re on about, but I’ve seen the people who made us suffer! We weren’t able to stop them then, what makes you think we can stop them now!?” Jaune began to shout. Ruby frowned and backed away. Ever since the night Qrow joined them, Jaune had been losing his cool from time to time, and this was one of those times.

“The gods are not like the people you fought. They hold more power than even this Salem.” She said.

“Pretty presumptuous claim you got there, lady. You got proof?” Qrow asked.

“Twenty four hours. I will take Lie Ren to this world for twenty four hours. When he comes back, he’ll have all the proof he needs.” The military woman said.

“No way!” Jaune’s two words caused the room to silence, if only because of how forceful they were. “You are not taking Ren from us!” Jaune then clutched the woman by the wrist. As if it was a sudden shock, the woman’s eyes widened. She then looked at Jaune.

“… No. I won’t take Lie Ren. You, on the other hand… You’re like him. A strong tie to the gods that I have never seen before. Come with me, and I will show you the world of the gods and what the true threat is.” She said.

“If I go, will you leave Ren alone?” Jaune asked.

“Yes. Besides, I believe you would benefit from this trip more.” She said.

“Twenty four hours. You got that long to convince me of these so called ‘gods’.” Jaune said.

“Jaune, what are you saying?” Ruby jumped in.

“Ruby, don’t worry about me. Mistral was your mission, not mine. And Ren… Well, Ren needs Nora as much as she needs him. I’ll go in Ren’s place.” Jaune said.

“A good decision. She would be proud of you.” The woman then held a sword up as the two began to teleport. Jaune had no time to ask her what she meant before the two were gone.

“JAUNE!” Ruby shouted out, but he was already gone.

----

Two blue lights appeared as the two were transported to an empty train station in the middle of the night.

“What did you just say?” Jaune asked the military woman.

“… That woman you loved. She was taken from you, yes?” She asked.

“… Yes. By Cinder.” Jaune clenched his fists.

“No. By the gods who placed her there. The gods who made Cinder bypass everyone else. The gods who made her absolutely untouchable and too powerful for anyone to touch. It is because of them that your friend had died.” She said.

“You keep talking about the ‘gods’, but I don’t see any goddamned proof!” He said.

“You may only look behind you.” She said. Jaune turned around and… he could see it. A poster showing four girls he found familiar, though in outfits he can’t quite remember… Except for one. Ruby’s uniform. Of course, she wore it throughout her trip to Mistral. As if that wasn’t a tipper enough, he also saw the team name: RWBY. Other words were obscure to him. Volume 5? October? What were they talking about? Only the word RWBY made sense to him, and yet, it didn’t.

“What… is all this?” Jaune asked.

“This… This is the world of the gods, Jaune. This… is the world of your creators.” She answered.