Chapter Text
The group had returned to the cave, their eyes still wide from Jinn's explanation about the truth of Ozpin and Salem, and the shocking revelation that the key to defeating Salem had been right in front of them all along.
Voltaria and Ruby were the ones destined to create Crimson Rose, the warrior fated to slay Salem.
"All this time…" Ruby whispered, staring at Jinn. The blue spirit hovered gently above the campfire, her expression calm and knowing. "You had the answer…but you only held it back to protect us."
"It was the will of the Goddess of the Night," Jinn replied, her voice both serene and lightly playful, as if sharing a secret. "She loves humanity, but she does not wish for your lives to be shackled by fate's demands. So she ensured that only you and your friends would know this truth. Not Ozma, not Salem, no one else."
"…Shit…" Qrow muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So Ozma—Ozpin—has no idea that we've been carrying the key to finally end Salem…for good?"
Jinn dipped her head in a graceful nod. "Correct. No one is invincible. Salem may be immortal, yes, but she has a weakness, one hidden within these girls." She gestured toward Ruby and Voltaria.
"Once they master the fusion into Crimson Rose, Salem shall fall, and a new light will rise," Jinn said with a soft, encouraging smile. "This is the prophecy foretold by the Seers of the Mystic Clan."
Everyone stared, stunned, especially Qrow.
For the first time in so long, this felt like hope. Real hope.
"Thank you…Jinn…for telling us," Ruby said quietly to the spirit within the lamp.
Jinn smiled warmly, appreciation glowing in her eyes. "And I thank you for listening, rather than demanding."
Then her expression shifted, becoming serious.
"But do not let your guard down," she warned gently. "You have yet to master the fusion. If you fail to learn how to become Crimson Rose, not only will Salem win…but your lives will be in grave danger."
"But…we don't know how," Ruby admitted. "She just appeared…and then vanished."
"She appears when she is needed," Jinn corrected kindly. "If you two share the same goal, the same focus, the same heart…You will become Crimson Rose."
Voltaria and Ruby exchanged a look. They understood now: unity of purpose, unity of mind.
"We'll do our best, Jinn," Ruby said with renewed determination. "We'll train, focus, and one day…one day we'll end this war."
Jinn's smile softened. "I know you will. After all, you and Voltaria are the chosen ones. The heroes of Remnant…and the protectors of your family."
Her words filled the group with a quiet but powerful confidence. They would master the fusion. They would defeat Salem. And they would finally bring peace.
"We will, Jinn…we will," Voltaria promised.
Jinn's expression grew solemn once more. "Before I depart, there is something you must know."
Everyone turned toward her immediately, uneasy.
"There is a reason I was forbidden to reveal the truth to Ozpin," Jinn said. "Not only to prevent the secret from spreading… but to protect your lives."
Confusion and worry rippled through the group.
"I…I don't understand," Ruby said.
"If Crimson Rose were to defeat Salem, you and Voltaria would become the bearers of the most powerful magic Remnant has ever seen," Jinn explained. "Had Ozpin discovered this years ago, he might have…acted."
Blake swallowed. "But you kept it from him to protect Ruby and Voltaria."
"I did. For a very good reason." Jinn's eyes were calm, almost sad. "If Salem were gone, and Crimson Rose remained the most powerful being on Remnant…Ozma might see her as a threat. A threat he needed to eliminate."
A collective gasp filled the cave.
Ozpin would try and eliminate both Ruby and Voltaria?
The thought chilled them.
"He…he would've gotten rid of us?" Ruby whispered, horrified.
"He'd never—!" Yang snapped, but the fire in her voice faltered. Doubt crept in her mind. "…Would he?"
"If fear clouded his judgment, yes." Jinn's tone remained gentle despite the words. "That is why the Goddess Lunaria commanded me to keep this secret from all but the chosen ones, to spare you from being bound or destroyed by another's fear."
Silence fell heavily over the cave.
No one could speak.
The truth settled on them like cold stone: the Goddess of the Night had not only protected them from fate…but from Ozpin himself. Had the truth been revealed earlier, and had they defeated Salem by chance, they would have been targeted or worse, eliminated.
"She knew we were in danger…" Voltaria whispered. "She was trying to save us."
"She was protecting your lives and your futures," Jinn confirmed. "You were never meant to be treated as tools to be used and discarded. That is why the star entities and I were commanded to keep you safe."
Jinn drifted closer, her expression kind and wise. "The prophecy speaks of a warrior with two souls who will defeat the great evil. It never said the two must stand alone…" She smiled softly. "Fight as one. As a family. Unity is your greatest strength."
Hope flickered in their eyes.
Bittersweet, but real.
"Jinn…thank you for helping us, and for letting us see the truth," Voltaria said, voice thick with gratitude.
Jinn bowed gracefully. "It has been my honor to guide the chosen ones." She floated back slightly. "You have one question remaining. Do you wish to use it?"
The group exchanged glances, silent, thoughtful, uncertain. Eventually, they all nodded.
"…No," Ruby said gently. "We'll save it. For when we really need it."
Jinn smiled. "A wise choice. I will await your final question."
"Just…we hope no one else learns the truth," Voltaria murmured.
"Do not worry," Jinn assured her, placing a finger to her lips with playful elegance. "This answer was meant only for you two. No one else, not even Ozpin nor Salem, shall ever hear it. For my lips are sealed."
Cyan smoke swirled around her and Jinn vanished. Time resumed but the cave was still. The group just sat in silence, staring into the dim embers of the fire as they tried or failed to fully process what they had learned.
Crimson Rose could defeat Salem.
But they could never tell Ozpin.
Not now. Not ever.
So they stayed there quietly, saying nothing.
Not as the minutes passed. Not when the storm outside finally faded at the mouth of the cave. Not even when the fire slowly flickers. No one spoke.
They simply sat there, processing everything.
They kept thinking about Jinn's answer. All these years, Ozpin never knew the truth because the Goddess of Night had prevented it, protecting both Ruby's and Voltaria's lives and futures.
"Wow…just…wow…" Yang broke the cold silence, placing a hand on her head. "All this time…the answer was with us…"
"The truth about defeating Salem…it was Crimson Rose this whole time," Blake added softly.
"But it's also dangerous," Ruby whispered. "Jinn didn't tell Professor Ozpin because the goddess told her to keep it a secret, keeping us safe…protecting us…protecting our future."
"All of this so we wouldn't suffer at the hands of fate," Voltaria said quietly, understanding that they were trying to make sure no one controlled their future.
"So… what do we do now?" Oscar asked, unsure if they should continue their journey.
Everyone else felt the same uncertainty. They weren't sure if they should venture on. They worried about Ruby and Voltaria more than any prophecy. More than anything, they wanted to keep that secret safe until the time was right.
"We should meet with the others in Argus," Voltaria suddenly spoke. "We need to regroup, inform them of what we've discovered, and then…we'll figure out the rest once we've had some time to rest."
The group looked at Voltaria with concern, wondering if she was okay. But seeing her unfazed, unreadable expression beneath her mask, they understood the mission at hand. They needed to inform the others and then recover.
When the storm cleared, the group exited the cave, gathered their supplies, and prepared to head toward Argus. They would need a large clearing for teleportation to work, since they couldn't simply enter the city without proper registration.
However, before they could leave, Voltaria felt something…off.
It was like a familiar presence, yet strange.
"Volty? Are you okay?" Ruby asked, stepping closer.
Voltaria placed a hand to her forehead and shook her head slightly. "I…I don't know, but I felt something familiar."
"What kind of presence?" Blake asked hesitantly.
"Like…when I first met the Grimm Riders," Voltaria said softly. "But different. Almost…alone. Like when I was young."
The group exchanged worried glances, curious about what she was sensing.
"Could it be another Grimm Rider?" Weiss suggested. "One might be nearby, maybe even offering help."
"I don't think so," Voltaria replied, staring down the snowy path ahead. "This aura feels…small. Uncertain. Like it doesn't know what to do."
"…You're going to check it out, aren't you?" Oscar asked.
"Someone has to," Voltaria said calmly. "Who knows what it could be."
"Well, you're not doing it alone," Ruby said with a supportive smile.
"You're sure?" Voltaria asked, glancing at the others.
"Hey, we're in this together," Yang said with a grin. "No matter what happens, we've got your back."
Grateful for their support, Voltaria led the group down the snowy path, following the strange energy drawing her forward. They traveled for fifteen to thirty minutes, though it felt much longer, even while riding their dinosaurs, until they heard something.
"Do you hear that?" Ruby asked, suddenly alert.
Everyone stopped, listening carefully. Even the dinosaurs went silent. A faint metallic squeaking echoed in the distance.
They followed the sound cautiously until they reached a gate, swinging back and forth in the wind. Above it hung a large sign reading: BRUNSWICK FARMS.
Before them stretched a vast farm.
A large two-story farmhouse stood at its center, with several greenhouses lining a cobblestone driveway that led up to it. A red metal gate with an arched frame marked the entrance, proudly displaying the farm's name. Nearby were at least two large barns, along with several smaller houses that appeared to be living quarters for farm workers.
What in the dark abyss is this place? Wraith asked as Ruby rushed over to the moving fence, gripping it to keep it from swinging.
"It…looks like a farm," Oscar said, recognizing the architecture.
"Yeah…and it looks abandoned," Weiss added.
"It may look abandoned, but there's always something lurking in the dark," Voltaria said, her gaze fixed on the farm. "Come on. It's this way."
Everyone proceeded through the farm's gates. The larger dinosaurs had to step over the fence to enter without going beneath the sign. Hannibal was the last to enter, carefully closing the gate behind them.
They were fortunate that the snowstorm had died down, allowing the group to feel less cold. They walked along the snow-covered path of the estate, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger, and yet…there was none.
"I don't get it," Ruby suddenly spoke.
Team RWBY, Voltaria, Qrow, Oscar, Maria, and their dinosaur companions arrived at the porch of the main residence. This was where Voltaria had sensed the strange energy. The front door was locked, so Tabitha entered through another way and unlocked it from the inside.
"The empty towns we passed through were all damaged or unfinished," Ruby said carefully. "But this place looks…fine. Well…mostly."
Weiss shivered, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. Ripper noticed and gently pressed his head against her back, releasing a soft, warm aura. Weiss smiled faintly and patted his snout.
"Thanks, Rippy." She then looked back at the house, an uneasy feeling settling in. "Maybe everyone left in a hurry…before things took a turn?"
"I don't think so," Calista said, hovering beside Blake. "There are no signs of people leaving, almost as if they never left at all."
A click echoed through the house, and the door opened, revealing Tabitha's shadowy figure in the doorway.
The coast is clear. There's no danger on this floor, She said calmly.
The group entered the house while the dinosaurs remained outside. Jia the Giganotosaurus used her fire element to create a small blaze to keep them warm. Hannibal closed the door behind them as they looked around.
"This is where I sense the energy," Voltaria said. "It's somewhere in this house."
You young ones stay here with Ms. Calavera and Mr. Branwen, Regina said gently. Wraith and I will investigate upstairs and gather some blankets. We may be here for a while, it's almost nightfall.
Everyone agreed and settled into the living room, where a fireplace stood. Hannibal lit the fire using leftover firewood. The warmth helped, but the unease lingered.
Voltaria lingered near the entrance hall with Tabitha, scanning the area for clues. Her eyes stopped on three framed pictures hanging on the wall.
One showed the entire family who owned Brunswick Farm. The second was a portrait of the married couple. The last was a large group photo of fourteen people, likely the farmhands and their families.
Everyone in the photos looked happy, as if this new life had given them peace and simplicity.
But something felt wrong.
Ruby and Blake approached her.
"Find anything?" Ruby asked.
"So far…this man here," Voltaria said, pointing to the picture of the couple, "is the owner of Brunswick Farm. His family and several others built a life here in the mountains of northern Anima. However…something isn't right. It's as if this place has been stripped of life."
Before anyone could respond, Wraith's voice echoed sharply through their minds.
Shit! Kid, get up here—now!
Voltaria sprinted upstairs with Tabitha, Ruby, and Blake close behind. The others followed quickly. They reached the second floor and saw Regina and Wraith standing frozen at the doorway of a bedroom, their eyes wide.
Voltaria stepped forward.
On the bed lay two decomposing bodies, positioned as if they were asleep.
Voltaria recognized them immediately, the owner of the farm and his wife.
Horror washed over the group, but Voltaria remained steady. She had seen corpses before…but this was different.
"They never abandoned this place," Voltaria whispered. "They died here."
Later, the group gathered again in the study, the fireplace crackling softly. Despite the warmth, everyone still shivered from what they had seen.
Weiss sat near the fire, staring into it, shaken. Hannibal returned from a storage closet carrying a blanket, dusted it off, and gently wrapped it around her shoulders. Weiss offered him a weak smile.
Tabitha, Wraith, Regina, Voltaria, and Qrow went outside with the dinosaurs to investigate the other houses.
What they found confirmed Voltaria's suspicion.
The farmhands and their families had died the same way as the Brunswicks, found in their beds, bodies largely intact. No wounds. No signs of struggle. Death by dehydration and starvation.
As if they had simply…given up on living.
They returned to the main house and informed the others. Unease settled heavily over the group.
"What could cause an entire estate to waste away in their sleep?" Yang muttered.
"This doesn't make sense," Voltaria said quietly, pacing. "The energy I felt is still here…yet everyone has been dead for a long time."
"Maybe there was some dust nearby?" Ruby suggested.
"No," Voltaria replied, shaking her head. "There's no dust here, just farming tools."
Oscar, who had been silent, raised his hand slowly. "I…don't know if this helps, but I found something in the kitchen."
They followed him inside. The tables and chairs were undisturbed. But on the counter near the window sat a potted shrub, blooming beautifully despite the cold.
It had large, bell-shaped flowers with elongated, soft petals glowing in pale pink, lavender, and light blue. The petals curled outward, resembling Canterbury bells or lilies. The plant looked healthy, thriving.
(The flower is from the movie Maleficent 2014)
"What is that?" Qrow asked.
Sweet-Milkies, Regina replied, surprising everyone.
"Sweet-Milkies?" Ruby echoed, confused.
They're a type of flower that produces a nectar-like milk, Regina explained. In my old life, mothers who struggled to produce milk often used these flowers to feed their newborns. They're also eaten as snacks by children and used in baking.
"But how can it grow in such a cold environment?" Oscar asked.
They usually grow in forest areas, but they can also be easy to care for, Regina said. As long as they're potted in fine, nutrient-rich soil, watered twice a day, and given enough sunlight, but not too much, they can grow almost anywhere."
"I see…" Oscar murmured.
"So this is what you wanted to show us?" Qrow asked. "A flower?"
"Oscar was right to bring us here," Voltaria said, stepping closer to the pot. "Look at it. It's healthy, blooming, and producing sustenance."
She gently plucked one flower and examined it before turning back to the group.
"Now ask yourselves this, who has been caring for this plant…while everyone else here is dead?"
The room fell silent.
If the plant was alive, then that meant one thing.
There was a survivor.
Just before anyone could speak, they heard something upstairs.
Startled, the group exchanged glances and silently agreed to investigate. Weapons drawn, they moved up the stairs slowly, taking each step with caution. They passed several rooms before reaching a small door at the far end of the hallway, one they had missed earlier.
It was slightly open.
Movement flickered inside.
Voltaria raised a hand, signaling the others to prepare. Everyone nodded. She gripped the doorknob tightly, silently counting to three before throwing the door open-
But they immediately froze.
Their weapons lowered as shock stole their breath.
Standing beside a wooden crib, positioned beneath a large frost-lined window, was a young boy, no older than five or six. He had long, shaggy golden hair that fell messily around his face, with uneven bangs partially covering his warm golden-brown eyes. His skin was a soft bronze, pale from the cold but healthy nonetheless.
He wore an oversized white shirt, the sleeves hanging well past his hands, paired with worn brown pants and boots clearly too large for him, as if they once belonged to someone else.
Inside the crib was a baby girl, no more than a few months old. She had fair skin, rosy cheeks with tiny dimples, bright green eyes, and a small patch of soft auburn hair. A simple white dress wrapped her snugly, and a blue bow rested atop her head.
The boy stared at the group with wide, unblinking eyes, gripping the wooden bars of the crib tightly. The baby, oblivious to the tension, sucked contentedly on her tiny hand.
Voltaria immediately gestured for the others to back away.
They did so quickly, Qrow nearly dropping his weapon in the process, as they retreated from the doorway, peering in from the side. Voltaria remained alone with the children.
Slowly, Voltaria lowered herself to her knees, raising her hands slightly in a clear sign that she meant no harm.
The boy didn't move.
Understanding his fear, Voltaria reached into her sleeve and carefully pulled out a Sweet-Milkie, holding it out for him to see. The boy's eyes flicked to the flower, widening, but he stayed where he was.
Of course, Voltaria realized. He'd been taught not to take food from strangers.
With her free hand, she gently removed her mask, revealing her face.
The boy tilted his head, studying her features with cautious curiosity.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Voltaria said softly. "I just want to help."
The boy glanced between her face and the flower. After a long pause, he took a hesitant step forward…then another. Each small movement felt like a fragile act of trust.
At last, he carefully took the flower from her hand.
Instead of eating it, the boy turned back to the crib. He climbed onto a small stool beside it and gently offered the Sweet-Milkie to the baby.
The infant cooed happily, grasping the flower and suckling the milky nectar it produced.
The group watched in stunned silence.
It was clear the boy had done this many times before, perhaps for far longer than any child should have to.
Voltaria sensed a powerful bond between them. Yet something was strange. Their auras were different, completely unrelated by blood. And yet, their connection was unbreakable.
Who were they?
And how had they survived?
Voltaria slowly stood and approached the boy again. He turned toward her, eyes wide but no longer frozen with fear. She knelt to his height and met his gaze, sapphire blue meeting golden brown.
From her sleeve, she pulled out a cream bun. Carefully unwrapping it, she held it out to him.
"Here," she said gently. "Something to eat."
The boy stared at it, uncertain. Voltaria didn't push.
"It's okay," she reassured him softly. "It's really good."
Suddenly, a quiet growl broke the silence.
The boy froze, then blushed, clutching his stomach as if embarrassed by his own hunger.
Voltaria, mildly surprised, made a small smile that shows kindness. "Go on. You need it more than I do."
After a moment of hesitation, the boy accepted the bun. He sniffed it carefully before taking a small bite.
His eyes widened.
He quickly took another bite, then another, eating eagerly as the sweetness melted away his hunger.
Voltaria watched with relief as his tense posture slowly relaxed.
Why were these children alive…when everyone else was gone?
"My name is Voltaria," she said gently once he finished. "What's yours?"
The boy looked up at her, studying her face as if she were something new and strange. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"H…Hugo," He said quietly.
He then pointed toward the baby, who was still contentedly feeding.
"Ma…Mavis."
"Hugo…Mavis," Voltaria repeated softly, offering him a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you."