ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Yeah, it's Destiny. It started as a world building exercise from a few months back, since we get a lot of conflicting facts from the Grimore, and the fics I started after it (A Dragon Age Inquisition crossover with two Rubys, a Borderlands crossover, a RWBY/SWTOR/Rebels crossover, and Walking) all required heavier world building (and all, except Walking, will be posted here in due time)
Technically, everyone other that Jaune (who is just a Ghost that Pyrrha named after Jaune) are from Remnant.
With the expectation of Weiss (who got Vex'd) everyone is showing up in the inverse order they died. So, Ruby, Pyrrha, and a member of Cayde's team are all from Remnant (and most of the other Battle of Beacon casualties are there too)
---
Forged in the Light
---
Ruby leaned back, gasps escaping her as she attempted to regain her lost composure. No way. No way.
Ruby heard Pyrrha's feet walk across the wood paneling, even out of her pneumatically sealed armor the steps were like gunshots. It wasn't even that Pyrrha was loud, Ruby's hearing had just been elevated to that level upon becoming a Guardian.
"Was that really Weiss?"
"I don't know," Ruby moaned, running her hands across her face. Traveler's Light, she didn't want to deal with this, "The last time I saw her was seven hundred years ago, I can't remember what she sounded like."
At some point, despite Ruby's struggles to avoid it, talking about it in length to Finn, her memories of Remnant had became blurred. What was Yang's mother's name? How many siblings did Jaune have?
Even things after the Collapse blurred together at times. Had she spent three years wandering the Atacama following Rezyl's dea- disappearance or four?
"Hey," Pyrrha sat down beside her, pulling her into a one armed hug, "It will be alright. If it's Weiss, it will be nice to see someone else from Remnant, if it isn't, then at least you rescued someone from the Black Garden."
"But if it's Weiss, how did she get there? The Vex weren't on Remnant, they shouldn't have her."
"We'll figure it out, Ruby. One step at a time."
"You know the worst part? If this is Weiss, she's going to be really angry when I tell her she can't leave the city without a Guardian," Ruby mumbled into Pyrrha's arm, eyes locked onto the pitted surface of the Traveler out her window.
"She could become one of us."
"Only if a Ghost chooses her, which I doubt."
"Why?"
"They were all made at once, and Weiss wasn't in the solar system, so I doubt there's one for her."
"I wasn't in the solar system either, but Jaune was made for me."
"Yeah," Ruby pulled out of the hug with a sigh, "I need to head back to the Tower, can you meet me there in four hours? I think it might be a bit easier for her if we were both there."
"I could go with you now."
"You," Ruby pointed a finger at Pyrrha, "Need a shower. You smell horrible."
"I don't-"
"Yes, you do. Go, Now. Before I make you sleep on the couch."
Pyrrha laughed, "Ok, ok, I'm going!"
"Finn, do you mind-"
"Shuttle's already on its way. ETA 2 minutes."
"Thanks, buddy."
Ruby let her armor rematerialize, feeling the light armor pressing against her body through the skintight suit.
Reluctantly leaving the loft, Ruby stepped into the elevator, bringing her to the bottom floor.
"Finn, remind me to buy the condo below mine at some point. I want someplace other people can stay, I don't think we'll be able to fit myself, Pyr, Shin and Weiss into a single loft."
"Already sent the order, should be ours within a week."
"I really don't know what I would do without you."
"Be dead?"
Ruby didn't give the sarcastic remark an answer, stepping off the elevator as the small car pulled up. Perfectly on time, as usual.
The door opened, allowing Ruby into the back, the Frame driving turned to face her.
"What is your destination, Ma'am?"
"Overwatch District, sub-sector T-4, Vanguard."
"Please give appropriate clearance."
"I'll give you appropriate- Grimoire-Helos-Vista, Ruby Rose," Ruby growled out, trying to ignore the mounting headache. Which Commander came up with this idea? She bet it was Ayane. The other Hunter had always been a stickler for military life.
"Confirmed, setting to priority one."
"About time."
The shuttle started to move, and Ruby leaned against the window.
Ruby saw Finn appear over her shoulder in a flash of Light, the sparks raining down. Worry was clear in his eye.
"What?"
"You need to relax. I know you haven't been sleeping well since Crota died."
"I'll rest when Oryx is dead."
"And when the next disaster comes? Ruby, you're going to burn yourself out."
"I'm fine, Finn."
"Approaching Overwatch District."
"Call Amanda, would you?"
Finn's spikes span, mulling it over, no doubt. Then the accented voice of the Tower's head mechanic came into the cab.
"Ruby, what is it? I'm busy loading some… goods for that job-"
"I have no idea what you're talking about Amanda," Ruby cut in loudly, eying the Frame, "I just wanted to ask for you to get my ship ready, I'm going to take a loop around South America after I talk to Zavala."
"Right, I can do that."
"Thanks."
"Any time. Have you heard from Cayde? He isn't answering my calls."
"He was a bit busy last time I spoke to him, but should be back in the Tower before eight tonight. He needs to drop someone his team rescued off with me, then you can grab him."
"Alright, your ship should be ready within a hour."
"Thanks again, Amanda, I need to get out of the City for a bit."
"Any time, really."
Ruby stepped out of the car, and into the high speed elevator in the Vanguard entrance. Closing her eyes, Ruby let her mind flicker to the past.
The bite of the sandstorm tore at her skin. Her left hand was nothing but a flayed mass of flesh, and the Fallen prowled around her, thinking she was dead. Cute.
She looped around Deimos, letting the Cabal missile crash into the smaller moon. A laugh burst forth, and Ruby flipped her ship, firing.
Ruby opened her eyes, walking out of the elevator, and towards Zavala's office.
"Zav, I need to ask you something."
"Ruby, we were just talking about you," the blue-skinned Commander looked over.
"I wasn't involved," Ruby responded without missing a beat.
The other man sitting at the desk stood, towering over everyone in the room. His face was covered in white hair.
"That sounds like a confession of guilt to me, lassie."
"Then I guess you're hearing is going just as quickly as your wits, Grandpa. Maybe if you didn't take so many hits to the head, you'd be in a better place."
The man walked over, reaching out, and pulled Ruby into a hug. A booming laugh echoed through the room.
"It's good to see you, Ruby."
The Hunter wrapped her, arms around the man, "I missed you too, Holb. How'd Mercury treat you? Pyrrha said it was hot."
"It was, except during the nights, then it was dreadfully cold. Made the Sonoran look like a nice day."
"I bet, so Zav, whatcha need me for?"
Looks like she wasn't getting out today.
"Holborn was looking for you, and I told him I thought you were taking the rest of the day off."
What.
"Zav, we've worked together for thirty years now, have I ever taken a day off?"
"There's a first time for everything," Zavala looked guilty, "You really should, Ikora and I have both done so recently."
"Maybe when Oryx is dead. If you don't need me, I'm going to do a loop or two are South America."
"Stressed?"
"A team I sent out found someone in the Black Garden, I'm going to be meeting her and helping her get situated in the City in a couple of hours."
"Why did you send a team to the Black Garden?"
"I sent Cayde's fireteam to look for Tev, guess where he was."
"He's alright?"
"Yeah. Probably will wish he had died there when I get my hands on him, but it won't be anything his Ghost can't fix."
"Very well, should Ikora or I be there?"
"Nah, I've got it handled. So, am I clear?"
"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah. Holb, see you later?"
"See you later, Lass."
Ruby walked through the halls, taking the stairs down two floors to where the Hanger sat.
"Amanda! Is she ready?"
"Yeah, should be waiting for take off."
"Good to hear!"
Ruby walked over to her ship. The heavy fighter already being moved onto the runway by a Frame.
Finally, a bit of time to relax.
---
Weiss watched the group, a hand on Myrtenaster. Most of them had started to ignore her after the call with 'Ruby' had ended, three hours ago.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Standing up, she drew her sword with a flourish.
One of them, the horned mech, glanced at her.
"Put the sword away, I don't need my ship any more broken than it already is. Ruby better pay me back," he turned back to the game, electric blue eyes watching the cards.
"Not until you tell me where I am, and who you are! I was kidnapped by strange mechs, you all come and grab me, and now you're taking me somewhere else! Are you planning to ransom me to my father?"
"Why? Is your father important?
Weiss stopped, jaw hanging open for a moment, "Yes!"
"Good, it should make getting you back to him easier. What's his name?"
"Jacques Schnee? The head of the SDC?"
"Never heard of him, any of you?"
Weiss noticed the woman in the white cloak pause, before shaking her head with the rest.
"What's SDC short for? Maybe they're in the Consensus?"
The what? No, not important right now, "The Schnee Dust Company!"
"Dust," The blue skinned man Weiss had found in the Black Garden scoffed, a bottle hanging from his hand, "If your daddy somehow managed to get rich off dust, I really don't know whether I should shake his hand for pulling a fast one, or introduce his face to Hawkmoon for fucking people out their resources."
"Dust is difficult to get!"
Tev reached down, scraping the red dirt of the desert they had arrived on off his boot, and blew it into the air.
"There, Princess, dust. That sure was hard to get."
"Not that kind of Dust!"
"Then what kind of dust?"
"Dust Crystals!"
"Oh, sorry. Let me scrape some more off and pack it up."
"Nature's Wrath?" Nothing, "Elemental Crystals?" Nope, "the stuff powering this ship?"
"This ship doesn't run on Dust, it runs on gas," the Mech rolled its eyes, "anyway, we're taking you to the City."
"Which City? Mantle?" No, they had been in a desert, "Vacuo?"
How far had she been taken?
"Princess, there's only one City."
"Speaking of home," Hob's voice crackled over the failing speakers, "We're starting our approach now."
White Cloak walked over, gently leading Weiss back to her seat and strapping her in.
"Hopefully, Ruby will be able to help you."
Weiss opened her mouth to say something, but jerked back suddenly as the plane rumbled.
After the most hectic hour of Weiss's life, the mech, Cayde, helped her out of the ship and up a flight of stairs.
"Ruby! We're here!"
"Come in, Weiss. Cayde, Amanda was looking for you."
"Yeah, I know. Good luck, Princess."
Weiss stepped into the room, looking around.
The first thing she noticed was the wall, coated with Scrolls showing everything from maps to biometrics to schematics for guns.
The next thing she noticed was the desk, or more particularly, the two women at it.
One was sitting with her legs thrown up onto the desk, ignoring the paperwork sitting on it. Faintly glowing silver eyes stared at her through a short bob of hair, and she was wearing what appeared to be a wetsuit with scavenged armor over it. A red cloak with silver embroidery was hanging off the back of her chair. Sitting on her hip was a massive revolver, as black as night except for the silver rail sight.
The other was someone Weiss recognized.
Pyrrha Nikos's heavy armor, missing the loose flaps of cloth and belts of the other woman, was colored bronze with red accents, and looked similar to what Atlesian soldiers wore. The only exception was the red cloth that hung from her waist to her ankle, which was embroidered with many bronze symbols. Squinting at them, Weiss made out several of the symbols on her future partner's waist. A circle bisected by a spear, a hexagon cut into four triangles, two large and two small, two crescents facing downward.
"Weiss," the silver eyed woman clapped her gloved hands together, drawing her attention, "So glad you could make it!"
Like she had a choice.
"Who are you?"
"Come on, you know me!"
"I do?"
"Yeah, it's me! Ruby!"
"I don't know any Ruby. I know you though," Weiss directed that to Pyrrha, "Where are we, Pyrrha? Everyone one is acting like they don't know the SDC."
No answer.
Ruby's jaw was hanging open, and Pyrrha looked bewildered.
"Uh…"
"You can tell me later," Weiss cut them off, "I wanted to ask, do you want to be partners?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"When we go to Beacon, do you want to be partners?"
Ruby's face slowly shifted, a stormy look overtook her face, "Weiss, what is the last thing you remember before the Vex took you?"
What?
"I was finishing the test my father gave me to go the Beacon."
"I see," Ruby's expression went flat, "Weiss, I hate to tell you this, but we don't know any way to get you home."
"What!? Just call my father!"
"We would, if he was in the same solar system as us."
"What are you talking about-"
"Weiss, look at those maps, do any of them look like Remnant?"
Weiss's eyes flickered to the wall, before stopping.
No. None of them did.
"What-"
"Things like time and space don't matter to the Vex. They grabbed you, took you from Remnant, and left you here."
"Then find a way to bring me home!"
"There's no way."
"How do you know-"
Weiss stopped, staring at Pyrrha. Oh.
"The same thing happened to you."
"It wasn't the Vex, as far as we know, but yes."
"How long ago?"
"Seven hundred years."
"Don't joke about this."
"I'm not. Guardians like us, we don't die."
"Everyone dies-"
Ruby wiped the gun off her hip, and Pyrrha looked away. What-
The revolver didn't make a sound, but Weiss saw something shatter, before Ruby's skull exploded into a shower of gore.
Weiss couldn't resist the shriek that rose up as the dead body collapsed to the side, the revolver falling from limp fingers, and spasmed for a moment before it stopped.
One of the little robots everyone seemed to own flashed into existence, waving a beam of light over Ruby's body, which disintegrated.
The red spikes span around the center eye before it spoke.
"Let there be Life."
In a flash of light, Ruby's body hung it the air for a moment, before landing. Ruby's head turned to the side, looking at the robot.
"Isn't it supposed to be 'let there be Light'?" Ruby teased, like she hadn't just come back from the dead.
"She didn't know that," the robot whined, "It made me look philosophical!"
"That's your idea of philosophical?"
"It sounded cool!"
"Cool and philosophical don't mean the same thing!"
Weiss watched the two go back and forth, slowly calming down from the shock, before speaking up.
"So I'm stuck here?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Weiss looked away, trying to keep the tears down as fear gripped her. She would never see Winter again? Never inherit the company?
"Now what?"
"Now, you stay with us, until you find what you want to do. This isn't the end, Weiss, even though I know it feels like one."
"I was going to be a Huntress."
"That isn't possible anymore."
"So, I should just give up?"
"I didn't say that," Ruby spoke softly, "We'll try find something, Weiss, but we have other things to do. You dropped in at a bad time."
Ruby stood, taking Weiss by the hand.
"Come on, it's getting late. Let's get something to eat before we get too worked up."
Weiss followed, feeling numb.
Last edited:
)
