Tea Amidst Terrible Trouble

(Third person POV)

Origami Acre...

Ruby is running and panting as she runs through the forest area of the Origami Acre. She then stops by a tree to catch her breath. She sits down at the base of the trunk with her head to her knees and her arms folded. Little pops out from her hood. They run out onto her arm.

"Ruby? Ruby?" Little asked, while Ruby finally raised her head and it hopped onto Ruby's knee. "What are you doing? Why did you shout at everyone like that?"

Ruby doesn't say anything, simply sighing. She looks at her surroundings.

"Where... am I?" Ruby asked.

"It's okay! I can guide us back. You shouldn't run off though. You all need to stick together if you wanna go home." Little said.

"Why are you still here?" Ruby asked, sighing before folding her arms again, and her face had a scowling expression.

Little grows concerned, "Uh... what? I promised."

"I promised to serve Atlas as a Huntress... That I'd keep people safe... That I'd be there for my friends..."

"But, we can go back and..."

"No!" Ruby said, standing up and Little hops off her knee to the ground. "You don't know what I've done. What I couldn't do! I can't do this!" She punches the tree trunk. "I could never do this... If you stay with me, you're going to end up dead too... Just. Go. Home..."

"But you're--" Little said.

"I said GO!" Ruby said, as Little yelps and quickly crawls away from her.

Little watches Ruby marches away, their ears flop down in sadness.

Forest...

Ruby walks through the forest. It begins to darken around her as she continues to walk. A glowing blue butterfly flutters past Ruby. As Ruby continues walking, a spotlight appears above her. Each spotlight shows Ruby walking slowly and much slower than the first two. She crosses the bridge between the Origami Acre and the Dark Acre.

Pink-colored extravagant manor...

She arrives at a pink-colored extravagant manor. Everything goes dark.

Another spotlight appears above Ruby again, but this time, Ruby is inside a room standing in front of a portrait of a family of three. The other portraits appear in few spotlights. The first two portraits depict Trivia Vanille,  both as a child and adolescent, with her parents Jimmy and Carmel Vanille. The other portrait depicts Neopolitan with Cinder standing besides Salem's throne. Ruby slowly walked towards the largest portrait, depicting Roman Torchwick and Neo with her parents lying on the ground, apparently dead.

"What is this?" Ruby asked, as she stares at the portrait, Roman's left eye moves to gaze at her direction.

"Hello, Red!" Neo-Roman said.

Ruby gasps and brandishes Crescent Rose's scythe form, backing away from the portrait. Neo-Roman stands up from his seat.

"Been a while." Neo-Roman said, jumping off from the trunk and casually walks. "How's the hero biz treatin' ya? I gotta say, you're not looking too good."

Neo-Roman gives a kick at Jimmy's corpse.

"Where's Neo?" Ruby asked.

"Yeesh, no manners. And after everyone came out to see you!" Neo-Roman said, his voice echoing throughout the room.

The lights begin to turn on in the room Ruby was in. Ruby turns around and becomes astonished to see certain people at the table: Penny Polendina, Pyrrha Nikos, Leonardo Lionheart, Clover Ebi, Ozpin and General James Ironwood. Each of them has a cup of tea in front of them.

"Salutations, Ruby!" Neo-Penny said, saluting.

"Hello again!" Neo-Pyrrha said, waving.

Neo-Lionheart is seen fiddling with his lion tail before he looks at Ruby and sits up straight. Neo-Clover adjusts his clover badge.

"Miss Rose." Neo-Ozpin said, adjusting his glasses.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Neo-Ironwood asked, smiling and gesturing.

Ruby looks on at the sight of the people she knew with horror, "How is she doing this?"

Everyone at the table laughs at Ruby's bewilderment.

"Stop it! This isn't real!" Ruby said, angrily.

"Is it real?" Neo-Roman asked, and Ruby becomes startled by his presence beside her and falls to the floor. "You're the one following a talking cat around a fairy tale."

Neo-Roman walks away from Ruby, twirling Melodic Cudgel. He jumps onto the table. Everyone stops laughing and stares at Ruby.

"Reality's gettin' fuzzier by the minute, kid." Neo-Roman said, while Ruby twirls Crescent Rose scythe and changes to sniper gun at him and the others. "Y'know once Neo realized where she was, everything changed. Always loved the idea of a place to run away from it all. Do whatever you want." He sits down cross-legged on the table between Lionheart and Clover. "I offered that to her back on Remnant." Neo-Roman gives a frown. "But we all remember how that ended."

"Is that seriously what this is all about? You still blame me for what happened to Torchwick?!" Ruby exclaimed, as Neo-Roman growls. "If you're looking for an apology, you've wasted your time!"

On top of the tea party room, Little arrives and watches.

"They say everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story." Neo-Roman said, and everyone at the table gave a wry grin; their eyes changed to Neo's eye colors. "But..." He stands up. "I knew what I was. And deep down, I think you know you are too."

Neo-Roman steps onto the teacup containing multi-colored liquid, breaking it with his shoe, as he walks towards Ruby. He takes out a multi-colored leaf in his hand.

"The leaves from the Tree?" Ruby asked.

"Oh, you're familiar? How about a little reset?" Neo-Roman asked.

"Is that what you want? Well, if you want me dead, then come get me!" Ruby said, angrily.

"You don't deserve to die, Red." Neo-Roman said, chuckling. "You deserve to be broken down..." He casually releases the leaf. "... Torn apart... wiped from existence."

The multi-colored leaf falls into the teacup. Ruby hears the sound behind her and turns around, aiming Crescent Rose at Neo. Neo jumps over Ruby as she blocks the potshots with Hush. As Neo flies over Ruby, Neo-Roman shoots at Ruby with Melodic Cudgel. Ruby is sent backwards away from the table. Neo-Roman catches Neo with a chuckle as everyone at the table applauds. Neo smiles at Neo-Roman before they both look down on Ruby. Neo-Roman places Neo to the ground.

"I'm gonna enjoy..." Neo-Roman said.

"...Watching you break." Everyone said, standing up from their seats.

Everyone has their eyes closed with eerie smiles. Neo-Roman kneels behind Neo, who gives a closed-eye smile.

(Jared's POV)

Elsewhere in the forest area of Origami Acre...

"Ruby!" Jaune said, his voice nearby.

Jaune, Juniper, Weiss, Blake Yang, and I are searching for Ruby.

"Ruby. Ruby...?" Weiss asked.

"Ruby? Where are you?" I asked, when Yang stops walking."Ruby!"

"Damn it! How can she just run off like that?!" Yang exclaimed, sighing.

"She was clearly upset as Jared said." Blake said.

"That wasn't upset! That was... Ugh! She could've talked to us!" Yang said, worried.

"Maybe she didn't feel like she could... Ruby has always been the one to get us through the hard times. We say things like 'We believe in you', 'We can count on you'. I know we mean well, but..." Weiss said.

Jaune feels guilty over what he said to Ruby back then. Juniper becomes sad and Jaune comforts them with a pat.

"It's not like we're asking her to be perfect." Yang said.

We hear something and look at to a certain direction.

"Yeah." I said, sadly. "She shouldn't have picked up our load. Oh, Ruby..."

(Open POV)

Tea party room...

Ruby uses her Semblance to dodge the attacks from Neo-Penny, Neo-Pyrrha, Neo-Lionheart and Neo-Ironwood with their weapons while Roman, Neo, Neo-Ozpin and Neo-Clover are watching.

"Who were you to think you knew what was best for Atlas?" Neo-Ironwood asked.

"I was the best and brightest Beacon had to offer." Neo-Pyrrha said, while Ruby gets shot down and clings onto the chandelier. "But I traded my life so my friends could live!"

Neo-Pyrrha throws Miló javelin at the chain of the chandelier. Ruby falls to the floor, the impact breaking her Aura. She gets up to try and reach for Crescent Rose, but is stopped by Neo-Penny's Maiden powered Floating Array. Ruby looks back at her.

"Just like you were too late to save me at the Vytal Festival... I died in Atlas too, didn't I?" Neo-Penny exclaimed, as she walks towards Ruby. "Can you imagine what that's like? To be completely and utterly failed... time and again..." She kneels down to Ruby. "...by someone who meant the world to you..."

Ruby reaches her hand towards Neo-Penny with her eyes on the verge of tears, but Neo-Roman uses the curved end of Melodic Cudgel to choke her from behind.

"You ready for that drink yet?" Neo-Roman asked.

Ruby manages to break free from Neo-Roman's choking grip and runs but gets attacked by Neo-Pyrrha.

"How many more people are going to die because of you?!" Neo-Pyrrha exclaimed, swinging her body around Miló javelin and delivers a kick at Ruby, sending her to the wall.

She struggles to walk along it.

"I'm trying to save everyone!" Ruby said, getting punched in the gut by Neo-Ironwood, who then pins her to the wall.

"And yet with all your best intentions..." Neo-Ironwood said, while Little gasps in shock, watching Ruby getting overwhelmed. "Have you ever stopped to wonder if you'd done more harm than good?!"

Neo-Ironwood throws Ruby to the floor.

"It's not my fault...!" Ruby said, attempting to reach Crescent Rose, only to get beaten up by Neo-Ozpin with The Long Memory.

"How many more lives do you have to ruin before you realize you're not cut out to save anyone?!" Neo-Ozpin exclaimed.

"NO!" Ruby said, grabbing Crescent Rose and slashes at Neo-Ozpin.

The Long Memory falls to the floor. Ruby becomes horrified to see that she slashes Neo-Oscar Pine in Neo-Ozpin's place.

"Ruby..." Neo-Oscar said, staring at his hand tainted with his own blood.

Neo-Oscar falls backwards and dies. Ruby drops Crescent Rose and collapses on her knees. Neo-Penny and Neo-Clover approach Neo-Oscar's corpse. Neo-Penny, covering her mouth in shock, then changes to Neo-Yang. Neo-Clover changes to Neo-Qrow, now horrified over Neo-Oscar's 'death'. Neo-Lionheart changes to Neo-Blake looking at Ruby in disbelief. Neo-Ironwood changes to Neo-Weiss looking down at Ruby. Neo-Jared then appears to stand next to Neo-Weiss to also look down at Ruby

"Do you really think you can stand to watch more of your friends fall?" Neo-Roman asked.

"Please... stop..." Ruby said, sadly.

"Or are you ready to admit the truth? That the world would just be better off without you?" Neo-Roman asked.

Neo-Jaune appears in Neo-Pyrrha's place with Neo-Nora and Neo-Ren, mourning over Neo-Oscar. Ruby begins to hyperventilate in fear and panic as Neo-Jaune, Neo-Ren and Neo-Nora join the others. Ruby breaks down in broken sobs, placing her head and hands to the floor. Neo carries the teacup and approaches Ruby. She places down the teacup and moves it with her boot towards Ruby. Ruby lifts her head slowly, staring at the teacup filled with a multi-colored liquid. Neo kneels down before Ruby. Ruby stares at the teacup before she looks at Neo, who stands up and looks down on her with a smirk. Neo turns and gets attacked by a beam. She is sent flying backwards to outside of the manor. Her Semblance suddenly dispels over the manor.

Ruby, in her perspective of view, slowly opens her eyes. A hole of the manor is shown with the Great Tree in the background. She then blinks and opens to multi-colored leaf brewing in the teacup. She later blinks to see the Cat.

"It's all right, Ruby. It's over now." The Curious Cat said.

"What? I'm sorry..." Ruby said, and she moved her body over. "I don't want to be me anymore..."

Ruby softly sobs, the Cat rubs their paw on her shoulder.

"It's okay, little Huntress..." The Curious Cat said, jumping onto Ruby's torso. "I can be you instead..."

Ruby opens her eyes in realization.

"I have been trying to wear you down for so long!" The Curious Cat said, chuckling.

The Curious Cat phases their paws through Ruby's chest, causing her to scream in pain and agony.

"What are you... doing?!" Ruby exclaimed, gasping.

"My purpose. When a poor little heart is broken, I can fill it with mine. I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you, Ruby." The Curious Cat said, baring their fangs.

"No!" Ruby said, worried.

"I'm not like the other Afterans here, I'm cursed with curiosity. I need to know everything!" The Curious Cat said, with their eyes turn black. "But more than anything, I need to know why my makers left me here..." It hisses. "Only to leave and make all of-- OW!"

The Cat turns around to find Little biting their tail.

"You're not a friend! Friends don't--" Little said, annoyed.

The Cat swats Little away from their tail, sending the mouse to the floor. Little slowly recovers. Neo runs inside the manor. The Cat hisses at Neo. They try to fire another beam, but Neo turns out to be another glass copy. The real Neo is behind them and she swats away the Cat with Hush.

"Ruby!" Little said, pulling Ruby by her finger."You have to get up. We have to go!"

As Little tries to drag Ruby, Neo stomps on Little with her boot, apparently killing them ruthlessly. Neo sneers down on Ruby with Roman standing behind her. Ruby becomes utterly horrified after Little was killed in front of her, the light in her eyes is gone. The teacup is slided to Ruby.

"Hmph. I think it's about time we all got what we deserve." Neo-Roman said.

(Jared's POV)

Ruby slowly moves her body. Weiss, Blake, Yang, Jaune, Juniper, and I finally arrive only to see Neo looking down on the wounded Ruby.

"Shit." I said, looking at the wounded Ruby. "This isn't what I wanted to see. Ruby..."

"Are you ready to admit the truth? That the world would just be better off without you?" Neo-Roman asked.

Ruby stares at her teammates, Jaune, Juniper, and I. She then slowly picks up the teacup in her hands. She gives them one last look. Yang and I watch in shock as Ruby drinks the entire tea. Ruby drops the teacup and lies there.

"Ruby?" Yang asked, her voice a bit muted.

A hole appears below Ruby and she falls into it along with Little and Crescent Rose, engulfed in a bright light. Neo becomes astonished after she witnesses Ruby fall.

"I sure hope Ruby is still alive." I said, while Neo sits on her chair, seemingly giving a frown as the manor begins to slowly crumble. "We can't lose her here."

"I know." Weiss said, as Neo shuts her eyes and shakes her head. "Do you have a plan?"

"I don't...I'm not...I won't..."

Neo opens her eyes before she is filled with mixed emotions of confusion. Weiss and I become shocked over Ruby's fall. Blake holds Yang over her shoulder, the latter seemingly catatonic. Jaune closes his eyes in silence.

"No, no, no, no!" The Curious Cat said, and Jaune looks to find it running towards the vine-covered hole. "I needed her!"

The Cat attempts to scratch the vines that cover the entire hole pointlessly. They growl in anger. They hear the loud sound and look up to the Tree. The Cat looks away before slowly turning around, giving a sharp sneer. Neo, still sitting on her chair, has a still dazed look on her face.

"Take us to her..." Jaune said, pointing the Crocea Mors sword at the cat.

"You still don't get it, do you? It's not a place you go. It's a place you know." The Curious Cat said.

"I wish I had a plan to save Ruby." I said, letting out a sigh. "But I don't."

Weiss, Blake, Yang, and I watch the manor continuing to crumble with large cracks on the walls.

"It's okay. She'll find a way. Somehow. I know she will." Yang said, smiling.

"But no matter... I actually found a much better solution to my problem." The Curious Cat said, while it gives a powerful roaring beam at Jaune, Weiss, Blake, Yang, and I.

Weiss, Blake, Yang, and I are sent flying backwards, crashing against the walls. Jaune lands onto Juniper, who catches him in time. The Cat's form begins to grow bigger with their colors changing to white with clear black square patterns. The Cat flies towards Neo.

"You've lost something most important, haven't you? And now you have nothing left." The Curious Cat said, chuckling. "How delightful! An empty host, perfect for me to fill."

Neo widens her eyes in utter shock as the Cat forces her mouth open and dives inside of her. Jaune regains his posture before turning around to see the Cat attempting to take over Neo's body, to his shock.

"No!" Jaune said, running to stop the Curious Cat.

Neo's eyes begin to turn into the Cat's checkered-pattern design as the Cat continues to take over her body. Jaune runs as fast as he can, jumps and grabs the Cat's tail but fails as the Cat is already completely inside Neo's body. Jaune glares as Neo goes unconscious temporarily after the Cat takes over her. Weiss and I slowly get up after we recover. Yang helps Blake up slowly before they both look on.

"The Rusted Knight." NeoCat said. "Goodness, am I tired of your little sob story." It slowly stands up from their seat. "You can't even accept your own futility."

Neo, now possessed by the Cat, reveals her face with a monstrous smile. The sclera of her eyes turn light blue with cat-like pupils. Her teeth are now sharp feline-like. Jaune is taken aback over NeoCat's visage.

NeoCat looks at themself, "This body will do."

Combined with the Cat's powers and Neo's Semblance, NeoCat turns themself into something similar to Ruby's Semblance and flies out of the manor, heading towards the Great Tree.