the Final Battle
Back at the top of the statue, Watts puts Mercury down, to which he ends up in a kneeling position. Ruby B. approaches him after removing her mask.
Ruby B.: "Merc..." When he looked over to her, she got cautious when she said his name again. "Mercury...?"
Mercury: "Don't worry... I'm all tapped out..."
Ruby B.: "Are you sure about that?" He leans back to sit down against the railing.
Mercury: "Back to being a nobody..."
Ruby B.: "Whoa. Hey, hey, hey. You were never a nobody."
Mercury: "Don't you give me that. Nobody saw me..." Man, he's a lot different than I thought he would be without his powers. "You know something... I always thought under that mask was a pretty face, even for kid. I just never I'd actually see it myself."
Ruby B.: "Uh... thanks?"
Mercury: "But more importantly... After what happened with us during our battles, I started thinking you were some selfish brat who only fought for attention. But then I got the bigger picture here. You're just like me: a nobody from Patch who just wants a brighter future. But of course you're still better than I am. A selfless hero who helps the poor."
Ruby B.: "Okay, I get it. You thought I was a jerk. And it doesn't help that Emerald was manipulating you."
Mercury: "Yeah... But now that I think about it, let's face it. With the whole multiverse concept, that scary thought where there might be an evil you is definitely a possibility." She stays silent for a second before they both smile in reconciliation. "Damn those dragons..." She offers him her hand and helps him up. Meanwhile, Watts now looks at the Dust Core he now holds, with the goggles up on his forehead.
Watts: "The power of the moon..." Then Ruby L. drops from above to his level.
Ruby L.: "In the palm of your hand, right?"
Watts: "Ruby?" She takes off her mask and reveals herself as his Ruby.
Ruby L.: "Arthur..."
Watts: "Somehow I figured you'd be here, too. And despite the situation, it's honestly good to see you, dear child."
Ruby L.: "Same to you."
Watts: "No wait. Your all grown up. Heh. How are you?" She's about to speak before going silent for a second and THEN answering.
Ruby L.: "Trying to do better." He just smiles in reminiscence at that line. But then a portal opens next to Watts and Ozpin comes through. I myself come up their level and remove my own mask.
Ruby: "Wait, Professor! We're so close-!"
Ozpin: "Don't start! I've been dangling in the middle of the Emerald Forest for twelve HOURS!" He then looks bewildered when Ruby L. walks up to my right.
Ruby: "I know, I know, and um..." Then Ruby B. swings over and lands to my left. "I'm so sorry about that, sir..." He then looks confused about seeing the other me's here.
Ruby L.: "You went to the Emerald Forest!?"
Ruby B.: "She could've used your help!"
Ruby: "No, no, no! It's okay. Uh, sir, these are my new friends. They're both called Ruby Rose and their both me's from other universes. They're here to help. This the wizard that I was telling you guys about."
Ozpin: "Look. I'll admit, I am quite impressed that you've managed to give them all a second chance, Ruby... But this has to end. Now." But then, all of our Spider Senses trigger to an incoming figure from above, to which we all turn around when we hear their voice. And you can already that it's Cinder's... Or the Red Succubus, I guess.
Red S.: "Would the little Spider like to play a game!?" She burst through Mercury's storm clouds, still wearing her black hood, but also wearing two black straps around her waist, one with a small bag, some gold colored attachments on the forearms of her suit, and a red mask around her eyes, with a swarm of razor bladed bombs accompanying her. Watts steps in and uses his tentacles to crush the bombs flying towards Ozpin. She then swoops down and steals the box from him. Before she can proceed, Watts sends one of his lower tentacles forward, grabbing the glider and holding it in place. Ozpin conjures a whip and retrieves the box with it. She spins her glider and slashes the tentacle with its blade, severing it, and then flies out into the clouds, disappearing. Our Spider-Senses go off at the same time. Then we notice that the Succubus has left a present: a bomb, lodged in the box.
Ruby: "NO, DON'T!" The explosive goes off, knocking Ozpin away and destroying a large part of the scaffolding. The shield goes down and falls to the ground. Velvet falls off the statue, debris plummeting around her. Oscar manages only to latch on to a random rivet. I instantly throw myself after her, with my hand reaching out for hers. Seconds before they connect, the laughing Succubus collides into me, dragging me away from Velvet. Ruby B. screams out a silent 'No!' and dives after Velvet, enveloping her in her arms and shooting out a web that lowers them to the ground, and hey land, breathing heavily.
Ruby B.: "Are you okay?"
Velvet: "Yeah... I'm okay..." To which Ruby B. starts tearing up. "Are you okay?" And she just nods. Meanwhile, Ozpin tries to hold the spell with his utmost effort. Oscar desperately holds onto his rivet. Watts moves to the lower levels, with Mercury in one of his tentacles. Ozpin grapples with the spell to the last, but fails, and a wave of magical energy spreads through Vale. Oscar lets go, screams and starts falling. Fortunately, the Cloak of Levitation comes in the clutch, attaching itself to Oscar's shoulders and holding him in the air. Meanwhile, the shield, impacted by the release of magic, moves down again, absolutely pulverizing the remaining levels of scaffolding underneath, sending Mercury and Watts falling before they recover. Meanwhile, Ruby L. saves a falling Merlot via her trusty webbing, and they all land safely. The shield completely collapses to the ground, rolls off the surface of the island and stops on the water. Standing on the statue's sword hilt, Ozpin watches in horror as reality cracks, creating interdimensional portals for those knowing Scarlet Spider's identity to come through. He immediately starts sealing them, but it's not enough. Back to me, I wildly bash Red Succubus' glider until he finds a stash of explosives. I take one, activate it, attach it to the glider and it explodes. The vehicle loses altitude instantly, with me and the Succubus crashing through some rubble before we finally land at the shield's underside. Oscar lands on a viewing terrace as the cape returns to Ozpin.
Oscar: "Thank you, Mr... Cloak thing."
Velvet: "Oscar!" They find each other and embrace in relief. I manage to get up and call out to them to make sure they're safe.
Ruby: "Velvet! Oscar!"
Oscar: "Ruby!"
Ruby: "Are you okay!?"
Velvet: "We're okay!" I sigh in relief, but then I notice that 'she' also manages to get up. I take my battle stance as she turns to face me and lowers her hood, removes her mask and tosses it aside.
Red S.: "Aw, poor little Ruby. Too weak... to send me home to die." In a mocking tone. At this point, I don't really care about what happens to her. I let the rage get to me, and I decide I'm done with her.
Ruby: "No... I just want to kill you myself!" In a vicious tone. To which she just smirks.
Red S.: "Now that's more like it." Then we charge at each other! Me starting with two web shots that she evades swiftly and swings at me. I bend down to avoid the blow, and web her foot to the surface, then I beat her down with a massive punch. I then try to perform a possibly lethal jump slam attack, but she frees herself soon enough and rolls over. When she rises up, her left arms gauntlet attachment extends a blade out, and she whistles and smiles like crazy. The fighting commences again. I perform a few shaky evasions before I get a good hit on her. I evades the blade again, but she strikes me in the face with her other hand. I recover almost instantly and web her legs to the surface again, hit her twice and accidentally wound myself on her blade. The maniac frees herself once again, and strikes but to no avail, and finally loses the upper hand. I disarms her, hit her a couple times, web her and pull her to her knee, punching her, then grab her again and perform a revenge suplex, ruthlessly throwing her to the ground. The Succubus cannot respond to the fight anymore, and I land a barrage of blow to her face, each succeeding punch being stronger. Oscar, Velvet and the two Ruby's watch my actions in horror. The Ruby's exchange glances in a silent agreement. I finally stop beating her after a powerful uppercut that puts her on all fours and lift her glider up. I hold it over my head and attempt to bring it down on her with a hateful scream, but then Ruby L. steps in and stops the glider halfway through. I try to push through and reach the Succubus, but the other Ruby does not let go. She doesn't scold me however. Instead, she looks at me with understanding, compassion and plea. The sincerity on her face slowly, gradually cools me down. I lowers the glider and drop it, but as if on cue, the Succubus pulls out her right blade and stabs Ruby L. in the back. She plummets to the ground in silent pain, Ruby B. watches in horror when she stops running our way with the Succubus cute, and I glare at the crimson colored demon again. "You know... You can blame me all you want for you're sisters death, but it won't matter... Because despite the fact that I struck the blow, the real reason she died... is because you brought her there. And all because you can't do anything on your own!" She gives off her evil laugh yet again when Ruby B. throws the injector and I catch! The Succubus didn't even have the chance to defend herself when I stabbed the thing into her neck yet again, to which she stops laughing and I inject the anti-serum. Once it's all gone, I release her and she drops to her knees with a gasp as Ruby L. gives a confident smile. Then the evil woman's face changes to a more kind hearted one as she now looks at me a little confused. Looks like we finally managed to get of the Red Succubus and bring Cinder Fall back for good this time.
Cinder: "Ruby?" But of course, like she said, she can't remember anything that happens when the Succubus is in control. And so her face shows sincere sorrow when she looks down to see her worlds Ruby lying in pain before looking back up to me. "What have I done?" Even though we cured these guys, we do can't do anything about the things they did here before the fact. Before I can say anything, Ruby B. comes in a immediately goes to Ruby L. to check on her.
Ruby L.: "It's you..."
Ruby B.: "Yeah, it's me. Are you okay?"
Ruby L.: "Oh yeah, don't worry. I've been stabbed before..."
Ruby B.: "Oh, thank goodness..." Then she looks over to me. "Hey, nice catch."
Ruby: "Nice throw." But then we look up to the sky when the cracks seem to be getting worse.
Ruby L.: "Is that happening? Or am I dying?"
Ruby B.: "Oh no, that's all real. You're good."
Ruby L.: "Are there people in the sky?" The void of the cracks start showing clear silhouettes, like the ones from when I screwed up the original spell. I notice a few particular ones too: One of a woman with short hair with a asymmetrical bob style, feline like ears, furry shoulders and wielding a spear of some kind. A man with a scorpion tail in body armor. What looks like another Scarlet Spider with robo legs like the ones in my Rose Knight suit. And a woman with a shaved head save for a mohawk wearing a somekind of jacket.
Ruby: "I gotta go."
Ruby B.: "Don't worry, I've got her." I leave Ruby L. to Ruby B. as I head up to the sword hilt with Ozpin.
Ruby: "What's happening?"
Ozpin: "They're starting to come through and I can't stop them!"
Ruby: "There's gotta be something we can do! Can't you just cast the spell again? But the original way this time? Before I screwed it up."
Ozpin: "I'm afraid we're too late for that! They're here!" More silhouettes are making themselves known in the cracks: A very muscular man with wild hair and bull horns. A woman with long hair and cat ears in a skin tight suit with heels. A lion tailed man with a lions main like hairstyle and beard in a trench coat wielding a sword. A muscular man with a shaved head wearinh a mask, a semi armored suit and some big gauntlets. And a man in a suit with a large forehead. "They're here because of you!" I take a minute to think of something. I start going through potential ideas as fast as my brain can go, much like Ozpin kind of did before our fight Salem on her destroyed home planet with the Time Stone when he looked intto over 14 million possible futures of the fights outcome. And just like with his futures... I can only think of one plan that might actually work.
Ruby: "What if the world forgot who I was?"
Ozpin: "What?"
Ruby: "It's all because of me, right? Because I'm Ruby Rose? So cast a new spell. One where everyone forgets who Ruby Rose is. Make everyone forget... me."
Ozpin: "No..."
Ruby: "But it would work, right?"
Ozpin: "I mean, yes, it would work, and even send back everyone we've already brought here... But you have to understand, that would mean that everyone... who knows and loves you... We'd... We'd have no memory of you... I'll be as if you never get existed." As sad of a thought as it is, it's the only way we can actually end this for good.
Ruby: "I know... Do it!" He gives a simple nod in confirmation.
Ozpin: "I'll need to start right now. So you'd better go say your goodbyes. You don't have long."
Ruby: "Thank you, Professor." I'm just about to jump when...
Ozpin: "Don't call me sir." I look at him a little surprised, but decide to leave it be.
Ruby: "Thank you, Ozpin."
Ozpin: "Hmm. Yeah... Still feels weird." Now I can start on my goodbyes.
Ruby: "I'll see you around." I jump off the hilt and leave him be. And he whispers to himself.
Ozpin: "So long, Ruby..." He slowly levitates higher and higher and begins to cast the spell, drawing a rune ring. I land on the shield and meet with the other Ruby's, with Ruby B. supporting Ruby L. as they both stand there.
Ruby: "Alright. I think this is it. I think you're about to go home." They both smile at the news. "I uh... I kinda wanted to tell you... I guess what I want to say is..." Why is this so hard? I'm just talking to myself... That really doesn't sound much better in my head than it would if I had said it out loud.
Ruby B.: "Ruby..."
Ruby: "I want you to know that..." I realize that they're getting my attention and stop rambling.
Ruby L.: "You know... It's what we do."
Ruby: "Yeah... It's what we do." Then my friends come to mind. "Right. I need to find my friends and uh..." I can't hold it any longer as I jump and hug them both. "Ah! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!" Once I let go, I start to back up. "Okay. I guess this is it. I'd better go, so... good luck!"
Both Ruby's: "Keep safe!" As I swing away, and then they both sigh.
Ruby B.: "You're in so much pain, huh?"
Ruby L.: "Yes." Once I find Velvet and Oscar, I hug them both for a minute.
Ruby: "Are you guys okay?"
Velvet: "Yeah, we're fine." Then I notice a small cut over her right eye brow.
Ruby: "Oh my gosh, you're bleeding."
Velvet: "No, it's okay. I'm fine."
Ruby: "You sure?"
Velvet: "Yeah. I promise." Then it hits me that I have to tell them the sad truth of the situation. "So... We should probably get going now, right?" Well, here goes.
Ruby: "You guys are gonna forget who I am." They just look at me a little confused and disappointed.
Oscar: "Wh-What?"
Velvet: "What are you talking about?"
Ruby: "It's gonna be okay... I'm going to find you and explain everything. I'll make sure you remember me, and it'll all be like none of this ever happened..."
Velvet: "But what if that doesn't work?" And she starts panicking. "What if that doesn't work, what if we can't remember you? I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna do that."
Ruby: "Hey, hey. It's okay..."
Velvet: "There's gotta be something we can do. We can't come up with like a plan or something? There's gotta be something we can do." Unfortunately, the reality of the situation just isn't as simple as that.
Ruby: "There's nothing else we can do... But it'll all be okay?"
Oscar: "You promise?"
Ruby: "Of course." Oscar and I hug it out. "I'll come find you. Okay?"
Oscar: *sniff*"I know you will!" I let him go and turn back to Velvet.
Velvet: "You'd better... Otherwise I'm just gonna figure it out... I've done it before, I can do it again."
Ruby: "I promise I'll fix this..."
Velvet: *sniff*"I really hate magic..."
Ruby: "...Yeah... Me too."
Velvet: "I love you."
Ruby: "I love-"
Velvet: "Just... wait... Wait and tell me when you see me again..." I just nod in silent agreement. Oscar looks up to the sky, knowing what's about to come. Velvet and I get in one last kiss before it's time for me to leave. Ozpin finishes the first stage of the spell. Mercury, Watts, Cibder, Hazel and Merlot return to their respective universes disappearing in a green glow as the cracks in reality patch up as well. Just before their turn comes, the other two Ruby's give each other a peace sign before they disappear too. I walk away from and jump onto a piece of a wall and glance upwards, looking at Ozpin as he gives me a little goodbye nod. Velvet and I share one final look and she utters a silent 'I love you' and sheds a tear. After a brief smile, I turn and swing away as Ozpin completes the spell and a wave of magical energy sweeps the area, eventually spreading across the entire globe. As far as everyone else is concerned, none of this ever happened, and that's where the story ends. But as far as I'm concerned, this story has yet to end... not until I've finished tying up some loose ends.