Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The ship's crew was excited. Today was the day the ship's captain got clearance to open Relay 719. This relay is supposed to connect to the artemis tau cluster but it is still a major event. 

“Send the codes.” The captain declares.

“Codes sent, Ma’am.” The helmswoman responds. “Relay hot in five minutes.” 

“Bring us through.”

With the relay activated, the ship would shoot off into an unknown section of the galaxy.  

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Two men stand on the edge of a cliff. 

“It has started Brother.”

“Who should we send?”

“Two are required for the bugs.”

“But all four are required for the end.”

“Send all four initially, then recall Rose and Blizzard until the shepherd is ready.”

“We are in agreement, Brother.”

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It has been three and a half years since the final battle and Salem being launched out of Remnants atmosphere. Team RWBY has continued to grow over these last few years. Wiess has taken over the Schnee Dust Company, and after two years of revealing the horrible things her father has done. The company has finally started to recover. In no small part thanks to her wife Ruby Rose-Schnee, who runs the research and development division of the company.

Blake is the Chieftain of Menagerie and leader of the White Fang. Under Blake the White Fang has evolved from not just Faunus rights to true equality for everyone on Remnant. Some humans have even started to appear in high ranking positions in the organization.

Yang is the only one of the four that has stayed an active huntress. She mostly stays in the southern hemisphere to visit Blake more often. Yang tries to keep in contact with her sister and sister-in-law but with them being so busy she calls them on a schedule. So it is a surprise when she sees Ruby calling.

"Hey Rubes wh-" Yang tries to get out.

"Yang get to Blake's as fast as you can. There is something topside coming from the south." Ruby quickly states.

"I can be there in 7 minutes." Yang replies.

"I will be there in ten. Pack for a long haul"

"Feeling?" "Feeling." Yang asks with a quick response from Ruby before she hangs up. 

Yang looks around before crouching down. "This is bad." She states before shooting off at Mach 2.

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"Captain, we are in an unknown system. Not the Artemis Tau Cluster as expected." The sensor operator calls when the Asari cruiser exits the relay.

The captain would quickly respond. "Alright, the mission has changed. Scan the system for anything abnormal. Get a basic reading and map the system. We need to report back to the council."

After a half an hour, the communication officer would speak up. "Ma'am, there is a repeating message originating from the second planet in the system. The planet's moon appears to be shattered."

"Put the message on screen and record it for review later."

*On Screen*

(Weiss's face showing)

My name is Weiss Schnee-Rose, If you are hearing this message you originate from outside Remnant's solar system. We would be happy to meet you.

(Map of Remnant)

Please come meet me in Atlas.

(Zooms in on Atlas)

Do not land outside the walls of Mantel. Dangerous fauna is present. 

(The area outside Mantel's walls turns red.)

(Back to Weiss's face)

I will gladly explain why once contact is established.

*Off screen*

The captain breathes a sigh of annoyance. "So we have an unknown human colony, who still have walled cities with dangers so large and so close they told us to land on their floating city."

"Yes, Ma'am." A crew member responds.

"Alright, helm turn us around. Set course for the Citadel." The captain orders. But under her breath she states "thank the goddess we didn't send the Turians."

Chapter Text

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Yang arrives a minute later than expected. She finds both her and Blake's Ready bags just inside the door. As soon as she walks in the door Blake's mother, Kali Belladonna would call out to her.

"She's in your room." poking her head around a corner. 

"Thanks."

Yang rushes upstairs to her and Blakes room, to find the cat Faunus pacing. Yang quickly comes up behind her and gives a large hug.

"Blake, don't worry. When I talked to Ruby it was from outside the system not the sun. She is gone and is not coming back. There's a higher chance that it is aliens." Yang turns Blake around and kisses her, the faunus melts in her arms.

Suddenly in a flash of silver and red Yang's younger sister appears. And instantly spots her sister and her sister's girlfriend. "Oh God, my innocence." Ruby screeches hiding her eyes.

Yang breaks her kiss with Blake and retorts. "Ruby, you're 22 and have a wife."

"Yes, but I still find you kissing anyone weird." her face turns serious. "But down to business. Are you two ready to leave for Atlas?" 

Blake is quick to respond. "Our stuff is by the door, I just need to say goodbye to my Mom." Before moving to head downstairs. With Ruby and Yang following shortly after. Chatting about her newest project, using nanobots to repair tissue and maybe even making reconnecting severed limbs even easier.

Blake quickly makes her way to her mom and gives her a hug, before calling back to the sisters. " Could I speak privately with my mom for a second?"

"Sure." Ruby calls back before all but pulling Yang with her out the front door.

Before Ruby pulls Yang out, Kali calls to her. “Yang, next time I see my daughter there better be a ring on her finger!” 

“MOM!” Blake squeaks.

“Yes, Ma’am.” Yang salutes before disappearing out the front door grabbing both her and Blakes bag. Blake, surprised, turns back to her mother red faced.

“Why did you say that?”

“Because you and Yang have been dating for 5 years and have been dancing around the topic of marriage since Salem was defeated.” Kali points out before Blake interrupts her.

“Yang is not ready, she doesn't want to become a larger part of the White Fang.” Blake tries to argue, But Kali quickly rebukes.

“No, she is ready. You're the one avoiding it. Every time you get a hint she is going to propose your either schedule something over it or distract her. She knows this too and understands you are scared.”

“How do you know?” Blake quietly asks. 

“There is a reason she has slipped up and called me mom a few times.” now Kali's face turns inquisitive. “Now what has Weiss calling you four together in such a rush to send Ruby?”

Blake takes a second to collect herself before starting to explain. “One of Weiss’s satellites detected a large asteroid, in stable orbit around our star, breaking apart revealing a massive device that then shot out a ship around 130 meters. The ship stuck around for around 30 minutes then returned through the device.”

Kali was surprised by this answer. Before asking “First contact?”

“That is what Weiss believes.”

“There is no one I would want more to represent Remnant in first contact than you four.” Kail says with a proud smile on her face. “If you go off the planet I expect at least a call. Now get out of here and don't come back till you meet some aliens. But most of all I love you and everything you do.” 

Blake gives her mom one last hug before following Yang and Ruby.

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Chapter Text

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Blake, Yang, and Ruby arrive in Atlas in only a few seconds after leaving Menagerie. They appear in the garden behind Schnee Manor. Yang is instantly interested. “You usually teleport inside, what happened? Did she get fed up with you teleporting behind her and scaring her?”

Ruby with her best Weiss impression responds. “No teleporting inside the manor or else I will dig into your secret project.” Ruby back in her normal voice continues. “And I don't want her digging into it because it's my anniversary present for her.”

Weiss suddenly appears from around a large hedge. “At least I know it's nothing world ending now.” she says before pecking Ruby on her cheek before giving Blake and Yang a hug. Weiss quietly whispers in the duo’s ears “All I know is it's biological and could affect all four of us. Klein gets the reports before they are given to me and blacks everything besides general information.” before stepping away. She looks over to Ruby “Teleport us to the control room dear.”

Ruby quickly grabs every one and disappears in a flash.
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“Captain, you are telling us there is an undiscovered human colony through the relay you opened that was supposed to connect to the Artemis Tau Cluster?” The Asari Councillor Tevos asks.
“Yes, Ma’am. But we have scans that show that some structures on the planet seem older than humans have been spacefaring. Our scans show a castle near the city labeled Vale on a map sent to us in a message that seems to be 200 years old.” The Asari Captain explains.

The Turian Councilor Sparatus quickly interrupts. “We should send a fleet to evict the humans and give the planet to the Asari.” He says smugly before noticing Tevos’s glare.
Tevos then asks “You received a message and a map?”

“Yes, Would you like me to play it?”

“Please”

The Captain opens her Omni-Tool and projects the message to the council.

*On Screen*

(Weiss's face showing)

My name is Weiss Schnee-Rose, If you are hearing this message you originate from outside Remnant's solar system. We would be happy to meet you.

(Map of Remnant)

Please come meet me in Atlas.

(Zooms in on Atlas)

Do not land outside the walls of Mantel. Dangerous fauna is present.

(The area outside Mantel's walls turns red.)

(Back to Weiss's face)

I will gladly explain why once contact is established.

*Off screen*

The Salarian Councilor Valern speaks up for the first time in the meeting. “VI Bring up separate pictures of the map of the planet Remnant, the City of Atlas, and Miss Schnee-Rose. Also a three dimensional model of the system.” The 3 images and singular the model quickly appear in front of the council. The Salarian takes a moment to look them over before speaking once again. “Miss Schnee-Rose seems to have peaceful motives but there are three questions I have. Who is she? Why is she so important to be the first face we see? And what is so dangerous that they need walls?”
The Turian Councilor brazenly responds “It’s an obvious scare tactic” he continues in a mocking tone “Please don’t take this dangerous world we only colonized last year.’ Obviously that flying city is a massive amount of element zero that they don’t want to give up.”

Tevos responded with a matter of fact tone. “If this is a scare tactic why build 50 meter tall walls that are 10 meters thick with turrets that seem to be every 20 meters. I believe it should be put to a vote."

"Send a diplomatic party or an eviction force.”
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Chapter Text

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Two Days After Last Chapter
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Matriarch Aethyta was annoyed that she had been pulled away from watching her idiot of a daughter to play ambassador to a splinter group of humans on a newly discovered planet. She stands on the bridge of a small ambassador cruiser with 4 escorts none of which are Turian. Her orders are to meet Miss Schnee, get an idea of this planet and what's so dangerous about it and how the city floats.
“Navigator, take us through the relay. Communication when we enter the system locate and pinpoint the source of the message to make sure we are not walking into a trap.”

“Aye Aye, Ma’am.” Both officers respond.
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Team RWBY gets the alert as soon as the 5 ships enter the system. All weapons are checked and ready for use and dresses are prepared.

Ruby has a full red gown with lace sleeves and a thigh high slit. Accompanied by a pair of flats and her cloak.

Weiss has a similar dress but in white and without sleeves and her sister's military jacket around her shoulders.

Blake has a backless full length black dress with two high slits for added mobility.

Yang has a Yellow dress with a plunging neckline that leads into a diamond shaped belly window. Yang has a full length left sleeve but her right ends at her prosthetic.

At 17:46 They get the message from Klein. “The alien flotilla has stabilized in orbit and has launched 3 smaller craft that are heading towards Atlas.”

All four huntresses of team RWBY equip their weapons and head to the cars that will take them to the main landing pad at Atlas Academy .______________________________________________________________
Aethyta is annoyed with these humans, not for anything they did mind you. But being forced to lead this mission she is being taken away from other things she finds more important. There is something that does unnerve her though. While her flotilla was establishing orbit Aethyta ordered a full scan of the planet and some of the discoveries unnerved her.

There was no way this was a new colonization. The settlements were to spread out and about a third of the settlements seemed destroyed. The destroyed settlements did not seem to be in a pattern expected of a war but more like bandits or mega fauna overrunning towns. The locations and walls around the cities make the second idea more plausible.

But for now she needs to make contact and hopefully not have to call in an invasion.

Aethyta takes a swig from a flask of Serrice Ice Brandy then moves to leave her quarters.
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Chapter Text

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As Aethyta steps from her shuttle she is greeted by a light snowfall and four women. No Cameras, No Crowds, Not even any soldiers. Just four women dressed to impress and at second glance, armed. All four wore full length gowns in what she assumed to be their signature colors. Red, White, Black, and Yellow, but all four had something unique about them.

Red: A red cloak with a hood flowing in the wind releasing rose petals that mix with the falling snow. The cloak is tied around he next with a rose pendant made of silver that looks older than the girl. Her weapon is held in the small of her back and even in its folded configuration is large.

White: This is Miss Schnee from the recording. She wears a long military coat across the shoulders that seems too large for her. She seems almost at home in the snow. On the lower right side of her dress is a snowflake symbol. Her weapon is an older looking rapier with a revolving cylinder in the cross guard.

Black: Immediately the first thing Aethyta notices is the cat ears that twitch in the wind and snow. Over her stomach is an opening flower. Her weapon is a short sword with pistol hilt and a ribbon that leads into another part of the sheath.

Yellow: An advanced prosthetic right arm that ends about an inch above the elbow. Her symbol, a flaming heart sits on her left shoulder. She seems to give off heat melting the snow around her. At first glance she does not have a weapon, but she has the build of a brawler and a bracelet on her left arm stands out.

Aethyta steps down off the raised platform and begins to speak. “My name is Matriarch Aethyta of the Asari people, we are here to accept your offer of peace.” To her surprise it is the woman in red who steps forward, not Miss Schnee.

“Matriarch Aethyta, it is nice to meet you. My name is Ruby Rose-Schnee

With me today is my wife Weiss Schnee-Rose, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao-long.” Ruby says motioning to each of her companions. “Before we begin I would like to invite you and your entourage to Schnee Manor and out of the public's eyes before we continue.” Becoming towards a series of limos parked near the landing pad.

“I will gladly take you up on that offer. If you would not mind I would like to ride with you so we can discuss the accommodations of my entourage and myself.” Aethyta moves to follow the girls to the limos.
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With everyone settled inside the vehicle Aethyta is the first to speak. “It is good to meet you four. It was a surprise to be sure when the captain of the ship that opened the relay reported back to the council about an unknown human colony it was a maj-” Aethyta is cut off by Yang.

“Wait, you are saying there are other humans out there and you think this is some new development. We have been here for-” Yang thinks for a moment before looking over to Blake.
“At least 13700 years at least.” Blake corrects.

Aethyta is surprised, she thought that this may have been one of the colonization ships humanity sent out before humanity discovered FTL.

"It is interesting that you have such extensive history. As you are not the only group of humans in the galaxy it seems."

Weiss is the next to speak. "It seems we must meet with the other humans. however let us take this conversation inside as we are here." 

The car pulls to a stop outside a large manor with Miss Schnee's symbol.
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Chapter Text

When Aethyta steps out of the limo she notices that the manor is something her bondmate would have owned. She is greeted by a short stout man.

“Good evening, ma’am. My name is Klein. Miss Schnee asked me to show you to your room to get some rest before dinner.”

Aethyta follows the man into the manor. In the entrance hall there is a grand curved double staircase that curls around what seems to be a newer addition. A large mural that seems to be a memorial for a battle, 3 men and 3 women standing across from a woman and a group of monsters, in the middle are her host's symbols. She is taken up the stairs and into the left wing of the manor and to a guest room. 

“Your guards are in the rooms across the hall and next to your room.” Klein tells her before moving to talk to all 5 Asari in the hallway. “There is a button inside every room that alerts me if any of you ladies need help and when dinner is ready I will come to retrieve you. Now, If that will be all?”

“Thank you, Are we able to freely move around the manor?” 

“Yes, except the family wing.” Klein answers before bowing and moving back down the hallway. 

Aethyta looks to her squad of commandos. “Make yourself comfortable but stay alert, explore if you wish.” she commands before walking into her room to start her report for the council.

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Around an hour later, Aethyta would finish off her initial report. She moves to get up and heads to the entrance hall to see the mural that has not seemed to leave her mind since she saw it on her way in.

When she gets back to the hall she finds Miss Rose tracing the lines on the face of a red haired woman standing alongside a blond man. 

“Miss Rose?” Aethyta Asks the Black and red haired woman.

Ruby jumps before turning around to greet the Asari. “Matriarch, you scared me.”

“My apologies Miss Rose, I didn't mean to scare you. I can understand getting absorbed into this mural. I could not stop thinking about it.” Aethyta says looking up to get a better look at the mural. 

The Mural clearly depicts two sides of a conflict. Six people stand across from a woman and 3 black monsters with bone like protrusions and armor. As Ruby turns around she starts explaining. “This mural is a remembrance of a long running secret war that finally came to light eight years ago and ended three years ago.” Tapping the face of the red haired woman. “We lost Pyrrha the day it all started. Five years of fighting for our right to live.” A shadow forms over Ruby's face.

  “I can understand the pain of losing someone, while estranged I recently lost my bondmate, the mother of my daughter.”  This statement got a different reaction than Aethyta was expecting. After a second ruby would almost jolt up and start bombarding Aethyta with questions.

“Your race can have a biological child in a same sex relationship?.”

“Yes, but i-” Aethyta is cut off.

“How is it done? How is the mother decided? Is the child always female? Is it possible between other species?” During Ruby's barrage of questions Aethyta hears a small commotion above her and the soft clicking of high heels fading down a hallway.

“Miss Rose, I would be happy to answer your questions if you would be willing to answer some of my own about this war you were talking about.”

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  “I understand you are new kid but I know you learned your general orders. What is your 6th general order of a sentry.”

“Sir, My 6th general order is to receive, obey and pass on to the century who relieves me all orders from the commanding officer, command duty officer, officer of the deck, and officers and Petty officers of the watch only, Sir.”

“Then why was the report about the relay opening not forwarded up the chain of command, and why does the watch Stander scheduled after you report not seeing you at your post and never receiving the order. you have lost us valuable time.” The captain sighs exasperated. “Congratulations for your monumental screw up you are being temporarily promoted to ground team leader, you will need a ground team to Remnant and secure any information about when, how, and why these humans are there, understood!"

"Yes sir!"

“understand if you return you will be demoted back two ranks, understood." 

"Yes sir!"

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Video pauses 

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“N7’s That video was intercepted from STG headquarters. Your mission is to follow the STG team to Remnant and then eliminate and make first contact with Weiss Schnee-Rose, am I understood!”

"Yes sir!"

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“Miss Rose, you have told me many unbelievable things today but you fired this woman into the sun." Aethyta says trying to reassure the woman.

“You don't understand she survived a nuclear explosion. She lasted a whole day with my team doing everything we could before she was even weak enough to throw her on the rocket. " Ruby answers forcibly.

 "I understand you are 'magic' users too. maidens you called them. How did you gain these powers and from where did they originate?" The Matriarch asks as Weiss walks Into the room.

 " Yang got hers from her mother, so did Ruby. Blake got hers from that bitch Cinder and I got mine from my sister, the powers are given willingly at the time of death or someone that aligns with the season the maiden is named for." Weiss states as she moves to sit next to her wife. “My apologies for disappearing like that. I had to tell the powers that be that there are aliens in their city."

Aethyta Is surprised by this statement. “you did not tell your government we were here and yet, you were the first face we saw and had access to what I am guessing is the most important landing pad in the city”

Ruby is the one to answer." they understand we will do what needs to be done to protect the this world and there is nothing they can do about it"

 she says with a little too much confidence.

"Why, don't they have military's? "

"They know at least 60% munity and fight for us, another 20% would be too scared." Weiss said in response, Quickly followed by Ruby ”My team and I are the strongest people on this world. No contest."

Aethyta Once again surprised.

“Would you be willing to Showcase your strength? " the Matriarch asks hopefully. 

“Gladly” Weiss says.