Chapter 24: No Rest for the Wicked
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"There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither." - Alan Cohen
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The Great Fallen Pilgrimage of Emerald Forest, a time of remembrance as this was the first trial of House Ruby, a group of Fallen Deserters who found their new Kell in the form of a superhuman girl named Ruby.
The one who protected them in their time of need and made a new House in honor of her. It was through her that she had gifted them a Servitor, but the second trial commence.
The repair of the Servitor, and should it be, shall they fully partake in Ether Commun-
BEEPBEEPBEEP BEEP!
Graagh?!?
Bang! Bonk! Crack! Booomph!
"...raghhh"
The Fallen Dreg groans as he fell from his bed onto the ground. Getting up and rubbing his four eyes he looks around himself and sees him surrounded by piles of metal scrap.
The only clearing that held him, his tools, potential Servitor parts. And the Servitor itself, repairs had been slow going but...The Dreg always found a way.
Seeing the time on its new Alarm Clock, (and if it got it's time right) it looked to be early morning. The Dreg being quick scurried over the piles of scrap, until finding a door.
Opening it and going through brought him to a sight the Dreg never thought he'd get use to. Tall buildings, a house area reminiscent of indestructible Castles from old human stories.
What the Dreg was seeing, was the backside of Beacon Academy, and the Dreg was hungry. Sniffing the Air, The Dreg crawls around towards Beacon Academy and find the place that his Kell told him to go to should he get hungry.
—
From crawling on the walls, the ground, the halls, The Dreg sniffed the air more and more looking for food, it thought to look and eat stuff from the metal containers of dirty stuff since occasionally there was something edible.
But the Kell yelled at The Dreg because of that and so he decided to scurry along. It would see and meet other humans, some disgusted at its appearance of a Fallen.
Others more scared of it. There was one curious person it encountered, a female from the looks of it but it smell was not a human. Maybe it was cause of the two big brown ears she had but it could be a lot of things when it came to humans.
Normally a person wouldn't have held such importance, that was until she held something that smelled heavenly in their hand, The Fallen Dreg thinks on it fondly.
—
A Velvet Scarlentina could be seen shaking against a wall, she was visibly frightened as she had no idea how to deal with a "Fallen" creature.
It slowly approached her, sniffing the air, the Fallen Dreg was curious.
"H-Hi! Is-is there anything I can help you? W-with?" The Dreg stopped and stared, when Velvet looked to where it was looking, she saw that it was staring at her chocolate candy bar.
"O-Oh! Here! Take it, I was trying to cut down on sweets anyway!" Velvet reaches her hand and arm out wanting the Dreg to take the Candy Bar from her.
And when it did, with a few sniffs it began enjoying its new favorite food. With the Fallen distracted Velvet rushed off in the direction that wasn't close to the Dreg.
—
"What a nice Not Human" The Fallen Dreg thinks. Ever since their species was brought to light in front of the entire Human village called Beacon, the people were accepting...Somewhat.
—
"Aaahhh!!"
"Kill it with fire!"
"What is that thing?!"
The Dreg, the first Alien to ever step foot in Beacon Academy's giant Amphitheater as a first step to human alien relationships. As the entire school had their attention on the Young Fallen some were quick to call for its head.
"Quiet! Quiet! Please! Can we have peace in here!" Glynda Goodwitch addresses to the school populous.
"Yes! What you are seeing is indeed possible! No, none of you are dreaming and or on any narcotics to see such an impossibility!"
"That's what you think!" A student yells out.
"Detention!" "Agh!!"
"Be that as it may, this! Is an improbability, a chance, a choice! If this is only one of the Aliens who found its way to Vale let alone Remnant then that means there is life among the stars! Now I want you all to know something very important. This...Ruby what was he called?"
Looking next to Ms. Goodwitch they could see that one Ruby Rose was hidden behind the Headmistress, or trying to at least as she wore her goggles over her eyes and could be seen clearly.
"A-A Fallen, Professor..." She meekly said, that only Glynda could hear.
"Yes, This Fallen is an important ally. And I will not! Tolerate any sort of antagonization to him or his guard, that being Team Juniper! And Team Ruby!" The two mentioned teams got many stares from the students all embarrassed in their own way.
"Should This Fallen have caused any trouble to you or school property please refer to the aforementioned teams and they shall help you in anyway."
Whispers spread among the student body, others being questions, while some becoming rumors.
"On that note, it is important that you keep tight lipped about this situation as much as you can, in due time we will allow the Fallen's presence into the press but for now please be respectful and considerate of our new Alien Friend."
—
It's safe to say that Ruby got many complaints afterwards and possibly more in the future, but it did not matter.
"I am Hungry, and I am Working." The Dreg thinks, "Where Ruby Kell?" He wondered, not knowing that Team Ruby had finally decided on going to Vale.
—
Ruby is seen rubbing her eyes, noticeable bags in her eyes, all she wore was her casual gothic dress and red hood. Her goggles gone from her head as they were in a box clipped to her belt.
For some reason or another it was Weiss who had wanted to head into Vale to see the Vytal Festival, which she and her team had all decided was very needed, seeing decorations being put up and signs welcoming all to Vale.
"The Vytal Festival! Oh this is absolutely wonderful!" Weiss happily says.
"Jeez Weiss, I didn't know you were so into this. I don't think over ever seen you smile this much...It's kinda weirding me out" Ruby said.
"How could you not smile?! A festival dedicated to the cultures of the world! There will be dances! Parades! A tournament! Oh the amount of planning and organization that goes into this event. Is simply breath-taking!"
"You really know how to take a good thing and make it sound boring."
"Quiet, you!"
The four would eventually make their way to the Vale docks where foghorns could be clearly heard. "Remind me again why we're spending our Friday afternoon visiting the stupid docks?"
When Yang was complaining Ruby had to agree as she plugged her nose. "They smell like fish."
"I heard students visiting from Vacuo will be arriving by ship today and as a representative of Beacon, I feel though it is my solemn duty to welcome them to this fine kingdom."
"She wants to spy on them so she'll have the upper hand in the tournament." Blake revealed.
"Ugh! You can't prove that!"
Ruby noticed something that caught her attention and she called to her friends.
"Hey guys..." looking over the four see a Dust Store robbed and broken into.
The team decided to investigate.
"What happened here?"
"Robbery. Second dust ship to be hit this week. This place is turning into a jungle." The Investigator said.
"Ah, That's terrible."
"They left all the money again." Ruby overheard the Investigator talk with his partner. "Yeah, just doesn't make a lick of sense. Who needs that much Dust?"
"I dunno. An army?"
"You thinking the uh, White Fang?"
"Yeah Uh, I'm thinking we don't get paid enough."
"Hmph, The White Fang. What an awful bunch of degenerates." Weiss says crossing her arms.
"What's you're problem?" Blake suddenly asks.
"My problem? I simply don't care for the criminally insane."
"The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus."
"Misguided?! They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!"
"Oh here we go..." Ruby tiredly says.
"So then they're very misguided!"
"Guys! Stop! Either way it doesn't explain why they would rob a Dust shop in the middle of downtown Vale." Ruby tried to reason.
"Ruby does have a point." Yang said supporting Ruby.
"That's not to mention the police never caught that Torchwick guy I ran into a few months ago. Maybe it was him?"
"That still doesn't change the fact that the White Fang are a bunch of scum. Those Faunus only know how to lie, cheat, and steal!"
"That's not necessarily true..."
"Hey! Stop that Faunus!" They hear a voice yell out, looking over and rushing to the docks the team see a blond haired Money Faunus jump from the ship and onto the boardwalk.
"Thanks for the ride, guys!" He says as he runs away.
"You know good stowaway!" The ship workers yell. "Hey! A no-good stowaway would've been caught! I'm a great stowaway!" The Monkey Faunus laughs as he hangs onto a lamppost opening and eating a banana.
The Faunus dodges a rock throw at him, "Hey!" The investigator from before says with his partner next to him. "Get down from there this instant!" He threatened, before getting a face full of banana peel.
The Faunus laughs as he growls, now more angry at such an action. Jumping off of the lamp post he quickly runs away again eventually passing Team RWBY.
The Faunus ignored all but Blake, as he blinks at her when he passes. "Well Weiss, you wanted to see the competition. And there it goes."
"Quick! We have to observe him!" The three give chase, joining the investigators.
"Blake! Come on!" Ruby yells to a stunned Blake, finally gaining her sense back, she runs with her team too.
—
The four continued to run, hoping to catch up and catch the "criminal" Faunus, but after turning the corner, Weiss would end up running into a Person.
"Oof!" The two suddenly fall, with Weiss over the mysterious person...who was still lying down. Looking up, Weiss sees the people they were chasing get farther and farther away, until the Faunus finally jumped off out of sight.
"No! He got away!" Weiss said not believing the Investigators would catch him. "Uh...Weiss..." Yang said pointing to the person she ran into, who was still laying on the ground now smiling at being noticed.
"Gah!"
"Sal-u-tations!" The red headed girl said.
"Um, hello." Ruby said back nonchalantly, having seen weirder things.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm wonderful! Thank you for asking." The girl said still on the ground, the team looks to each other then back.
"Do you...wanna get up?" Yang had to ask.
The girl thinks on it, and until finally nodding her head. "Yes!" And with great maneuvering she effortlessly lifted up from her hands and was now standing.
Team RWBY had to take a step back. "My name is Penny!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Hi Penny, I'm Ruby."
"I'm Weiss"
"Blake."
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?"
Blake suddenly hits Yang's arm.
"Oh. I'm Yang."
"It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"You already said that." Weiss pointed out.
"So I did!"
"Well, sorry for running into you!" Weiss apologizes as she and the rest of the team turns around and walks in the opposite direction.
"Take care friend!"
Penny smiles big.
—
"She was weird..." Yang says, not quite sure what to think of the green red head.
"Now then, where did that Faunus Riff-Raff run off to?" Weiss asks herself looking around stopping in front of someone they didn't quite expect to see.
"What did you call me?" Penny asks
"Oh I'm very sorry! I didn't actually think you heard me!" Yang quickly apologizes as Weiss looked behind the group and forward, extremely confused about Penny and her ability to just appear.
"No, not you..." Penny passes the group, that was until stopping in front of Ruby, getting real close to her face. "You!"
"M-me? I-I-I don't know I-I-Umm?!" Ruby continued to be flustered beyond belief as their resident red-head continued to get closer and closer.
"You called me friend! Am I really your friend?!"
"Ummm..." Looking to her teammates for help they all shook their heads and hand saying what would be an obvious answer but...
"Yeah, Sure. W-why not!" Ruby smiled as if forcefully, all but Ruby "Face-faulted" not believing Ruby.
"Hahaha! Seeensational! We paint our nails! Try out new clothes! And talk about cute boys!"
"Ooooh, is what it felt like when you met me?" Ruby asked her partner putting her goggles on, somehow being able to scan Penny. "No, she looks FAR more into this..."
"Sooo...what brings you to Vale?" Yang changes the weird subject.
"I'm going to be fighting in the tournament!"
"Wait...you're fighting in the tournament?"
Ruby, out of Penny's sight scrunches her face, as the Goggles display an "ERROR" in bright red colors, as if rejecting to scan Penny.
"What the-?"
"I'm combat! Ready!" Penny proudly declares, giving a salute.
"Forgive me, but you hardly look the part."
"Says the girl wearing a dress" Blake remarks.
"It's a combat skirt." Ruby slides next to Weiss, "Yeah~!". Weiss opens her palm for a Low Five, which her red haired partner obliged.
Penny notices Ruby's Goggles and freezes with wide eyes. "F-Friend Ruby. A-are those what I think they are?" "Hm? What?" Looking at herself she sees nothing if important, that is until she realizes what she meant.
"You mean these?" Pointing to her Goggles with a head tilt. "Y-yes! Those are Outdated Atlas Military Grade scanners! H-how do you have one?!" The group sees that Penny is visibly distress, she backs away a couple steps as well.
"These are outdated?!"
"Those are Military Grade?!"
Both Ruby and Weiss yell in exasperation.
"Oh, she's had those for years, it was a Birthday Gift from our Uncle."
"And he just...got it for her?" Blake had to ask, "How did she even get Atlas Tech?! They're practically impossible to get, let alone extremely expensive." An even more confused Weiss asked.
"Hey if you knew our uncle, you wouldn't be questioning it as well."
"But wait! What do you mean outdated! It's only been two years!" Ruby's past questions about Penny go forgotten as she was now worried about outdated tech.
"W-well...Those goggles are the Atlas Scanning Machine Mach. K. Or A.S.M Mach K for short.
"Not system?" Yang chuckles.
"Well there was the Atlas. Scanning. Syst-"
"Then what's the most recent Scanning Machine?" Ruby cut in, knowing exactly what Yang is talking about.
"That would be the Mach. N. Almost as if it is Mach "Newer"!" Penny happily mentions. Yet Ruby was far from happy as she held surprised face, her mouth open.
"W-well what's the difference?"
"The Mach. K only has 100 gigabytes of storage to hold while the Mach N has over a terabyte's worth. Why's that friend Ruby?"
Penny and the rest of RWBY looked to their leader, and they saw a young girl in awe with her goggles in her hand.
"A whole Terabyte..." they heard her whisper.
"Anyway, how do you know all this? Are you from Atlas?"
"That I am!"
"Wait a minute. If you're here for the tournament. Does that mean you know that monkey-tailed Rapscallion?" Weiss holds Penny's shoulders.
"The Who?"
"The Filthy Faunus from the boat!" Weiss grabs a poorly drawn picture of Sun and shows her.
"Why do you keep saying that?!" Blake angrily yells. "Stop calling him a rapscallion, stop calling him a degenerate, he's a person!"
"Oh I'm sorry. Would you like me to stop referring this trash can as a trash can? And this lamppost as a lamppost?"
"Stop it!"
"Stop what?! He clearly broke the law. Give him time and I'll bet he join the other Faunus in the White Fang."
"Ugh! You ignorant little brat!" Blake suddenly clenches her fist in anger and walks away.
"Grr! How dare you talk to me like that! I'm your teammate!"
"You are a judgmental little girl!"
"What in the world makes you say that!?"
As Blake and Weiss continue to argue Yang could only stand next to Ruby. "Uhhh, I think we better go..." she said.
"Where are we going?" Penny suddenly says happily, as if ignorant to the atmosphere.
Ruby could only sigh as they walked back to Beacon, the two arguing all the while. Ruby wanted a way out of the tough work for a day, and in the end more was just added on.
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