The Aftermath

Ryder managed to reach his dorm room and instead of going through the door he just broke the window. He had flown to Beacon Academy and managed to evade the numbers of Grimm that now occupy the Academy. Once he enters his Dorm, he immediately looks for the Dragon Balls and the Dragon Radar. Once he found them, he didn't hesitate to grab them, thankfully there was a bag in the room he could put them in. With the two Dragon Balls and the Radar secured, he flew out of his dorm room and went back to the City of Vale. It took him some time to get there but once he arrived, he began looking for the safe zone and found it quickly. Around the safe zone are a number of Atlas Soldiers and Huntsmen. Many were wounded and some possibly dead. Ryder lands in the safe zone and looked around. His eyes widening at all the pain and suffering he saw. 

He had a pained look in his eyes as he walked around to find his friends. But before he finds them he runs into Ironwood who looks damaged from a battle. Some robotic parts showing. Ryder's eyes widened seeing this, but he approached Ironwood. 

"General." Ryder calls out. 

Ironwood turns around and when he saw Ryder he let out a sigh of relief knowing that he at least was alive. 

"Ryder." Ironwood greets. 

Ryder looked around before he opened the bag he held showing the Dragon Balls. Ironwood gave a quick glance around before pulling Ryder aside. 

"And the Dragon Ball locating device?" Ironwood asked. 

"Safe and secure." Ryder said. 

"Good." Ironwood said, letting out a breath of relief. 

Ryder looked around and saw all the pain around him. He didn't know how to feel about all of this. He's never seen this before, ever in his life. Ironwood sensed his distress and put a hand on his shoulder. 

"We did all we could. What we can do now is ensure their safety." Ironwood said in a calm manner. 

"So much suffering. How did this all happen?" Ryder asked. 

"Someone hacked into our systems. Used what they could find and orchestrated these events." Ironwood said. 

"Wait, someone intentionally did all of this?" Ryder said, sounding utterly shocked. 

Ironwood merely nods in silent confirmation. This shook Ryder to his core. Someone caused all this pain, all this suffering and for what? Ryder looked at the Dragon Balls that were collected thus far and thought about his next move. 

"Where the one's who did this, with Salem?" Ryder asked. 

"Most likely." Ironwood said. 

Ryder looked at the orbs one last time before new mission and goal was forged in his mind. 

"I'll locate all the other Dragon Balls. Once I have them all, I'll use them against Salem." Ryder said. 

"I can spare some of my men-" 

"No. I'll do this alone." Ryder said. 

"Are you sure?" Ironwood asked, sounding concerned. 

"I..." Ryder looked around. "I don't want anyone else to be hurt. I want to prevent another Beacon from happening. I want to save lives, not lose them." Ryder said. 

Ironwood hesitated but sighed in defeat. 

"Very well. I wish you the best of luck in your search, Ryder." Ironwood said. 

"Thanks." Ryder said before walking off to locate his friends. 

"If you're looking for your friends, they're in tent 4." Ironwood said as Ryde walked away. 

Taking his advice, Ryder found his way to tent 4 where he found Qrow standing outside of it. Qrow saw Ryder and walked up to him. 

"Just a warning, you won't like what you hear." Qrow said. 

Ryder was confused and his face showed it. He walks past Qrow and into the tent where he saw Team RWBY and JNPR, except for the fact that there's no Pyrrha. Yang was missing an arm, Ruby was unconscious, and Blake was nowhere to be seen. Weiss was sitting on a chair, and everyone looked sad. They all heard Ryder walk in and looked towards him. 

"Guys, what's wrong? Where's Pyrrha and Blake?" Ryder asked. 

The group was silent. Jaune looked devastated and he turned away. 

"Blake left. I don't know where she went, but Pyrrha..." Ren said, his voice trailing off. 

Ryder looked at Ren briefly before he looked at Weiss who stood up. 

"She's gone." Weiss said. 

Ryder's eyes widen. 

"W-What?" Ryder asked. 

"She's gone. Cinder Fall killed her." Jaune said, his voice weak. 

Ryder stumbled backwards in shock as his heart nearly shattered into pieces. His friend, one of his best friends is... dead? His legs grew weak, and he nearly fell to the ground, but Weiss and Ren caught him. Once he could stable himself, he stood back up. He couldn't believe it. Someone he knew and cared for is dead. Pyrrha is dead. He then thinks about the Dragon Balls, he can use them to bring her back. But he thinks against it, he needs to use them against Salem. He needs to prevent more deaths from happening with them. He needs to find them all to save people, to even possibly save the world. Everything just got real, and Ryder isn't used to this. 

"Are you okay?" Weiss asks. 

"No." Ryder answered honestly. "Everything that happened today, is a first for me." 

"I'm sure it was also a first for us." Weiss said. 

Ryder still couldn't believe it. But it happened. He looks at the bag that held the Dragon Balls and he tightened his grip on it. He knew his new mission and he had to complete it to avoid any more pain and suffering.