Chapter Text
You were the shadow to my light. Did you feel us?
Another star. You fade away.
Afraid our aim is out of sight. Wanna see us, alive?
Where are you now? Where are you now?
Where are you now? Was it all in my fantasy?
Where are you now? Were you only imaginary?
Where are you now? Atlantis. Under the sea.
Under the sea. Where are you now?
Another dream? The monsters running wild inside of me.
I’m faded.
Faded – Alan Walker
It’s time to wake up, my little rose petal.
The velvety voice invaded Ruby Rose’s mind, caressing her brain with its seductive touch. The dialect lit the neurons and started the synapses firing with familiarity.
Her silver eyes fluttered open, dark lashes fanning her cheeks.
Who was that?
She heard the rustle of her companions’ awakening.
A brief shadowed image dances across her memory. It was a dream. But it didn’t feel like one. She clambered out of her sleeping bag and prepared for the day with her friends. It was another day of walking.
And the rain the night before wouldn’t make it any better, as the rain carried the remainder of the winter chill with it.
Remember me, little petal… the voice seemed to ask of her.
Ruby shook her head and smoothed her clothes before rolling up her sleeping bag, tying it closed. The canopy of trees and leaves made for a partial cover from the rain. It wasn’t perfect, but it kept the majority of the rain off the traveling teens. Ruby was grateful for it. Jaune had a good sense about these things.
As they gathered around the morning fire, making breakfast, the young Huntress-in-Training noticed a flicker of movement in the water puddle next to her foot. A large blue and black moth.
What? She looked around.
“Are you okay?” Jaune asked.
Nora also looked worried. Ren seemed contemplative as he made their breakfast.
“Yeah. Just had some weird dreams.” She mumbled.
“Maybe it was all this rain. Hopefully, today, we’ll get to find a town and have warm beds.” Nora said. She was in one of her rare, motherly, moods, Ruby noticed.
After a quick breakfast and finishing up their packing, they were on the road again.
He’s here. A tiny voice whispered from Ruby’s left.
She uttered a soft yelp and looked around for the source of the voice. There was nothing around her. Except for some bugs and trees. But bugs and plants can’t speak… She shook herself roughly and followed her friends. But not before the voice returned with a final warning.
He rides the wind…
“Guys, that storm looks nasty!” Jaune’s shocked voice broke through the chill of fear that sunk into Ruby’s bones.
She tilted her head upward to gaze at the sky, seeing the darkening clouds gathering.
“We should hurry!” She cried, breaking into a run.
The others followed and a crack of thunder shook the ground and rumbled through their shoes.
Bloody, bloody Alyssa!
The rage and hurt at betrayal shook Morpheus.
In her one final act of defiance and betrayal, she took her Wish and used it to turn back the clock. Not only sending her mortal back but undoing everything she had done as well. Including going down the rabbit hole.
But that was all well and good. For her. No doubt she was living happily with her human boyfriend.
The thought made the jewels on Morpheus’ face glimmer a sickly green as he paced back and forth in his bedroom, a scowl twisting his mouth.
Fine. Play house with your human all you’d like, Alyssa. I shall get what I want. I always do.
A memory of red and black hair and silver eyes paraded through his memories.
Ah. Her.
He turned on his heel and set off in search of a mirror that he could use as a conduit.
Where have you gone to, my little rose petal?
The Higanbana inn looked warm and cozy. And it was. They all shared a floor. Jaune’s room was across the hall from Ruby’s and Ren and Nora shared a room next to hers. Ruby was never so happy to have a warm room and bed. She shed her hood and took a nice, hot shower, washing away the debris of her travels and the rainwater.
Once she changed into a pair of soft pajamas, she clambered into her bed. Her muscles ached from long walks and fights. Ruby picked up her Scroll and opened it. The words, “Local Signal Only” blinked above the screen and served as a solemn reminder that she can’t contact her sister. Ruby snapped it closed, frowning. She lay back, staring at the ceiling and listened to the soft drumming of the rain along the roof.
Soon, she picked herself off the spongy ground and peered around her surroundings, seeing a large mushroom and smoke surrounding it.
Am I….? Ruby thought, feeling preposterous. In Wonderland?
“Hello, little rose petal.” A velvety voice purred.
“Caterpillar?” Ruby stammered, feeling endlessly stupid.
A rich chuckle reverberated in her bones and she took a timid step closer, waving away the smoke that brought back memories of Yang reading her the story. She coughed on hookah smoke and blinked her watering eyes at the shadowed figure.
“Why am I here?”
“You are here, little rose petal, for the noblest of reasons.” The voice replied. “I am in trouble. And I need you to help me.”
Ruby’s spine straightened at the words.
“Will you be my hero, little rose petal?”
“I will.” Ruby said, remembering her father’s words, “As a Huntsman or Huntress, it’s our duty to help and protect those that can’t help or protect themselves.”
Wings unfurled in the smoke and Ruby bolted upright, looking around her room.
“That was an odd dream,” She commented feeling unnerved by it, rubbing her head. The dream felt so real. She hopped off her bed and padded to the bathroom.
While in there, she washed her face with cool water before starting when she noticed that the mirror didn’t look right. She couldn’t place her finger on it, but something about it was just off. Telling herself that it was simply the lighting and her grogginess, she left the bathroom, unaware that eyes, from the other side of the mirror, followed her as she left the bathroom.
Ruby collapsed on the bed tiredly, checking her phone, seeing that barely three hours had passed. And there were sounds coming from Ren and Nora’s room that Ruby really didn’t want to hear.
“Why?” She groaned up at the ceiling and picked up the second pillow, jumping back and hitting her head on the ironically named headboard, wincing as a flame of pain seared through her scalp, whiting out her vision and causing her eyes to water.
When she’d picked up the pillow, a pair of blue and black wings fluttered and a large moth had flown to the window and out into the storm. Ruby rubbed her scalp with a frown.
“Where did that come from?!” She frowned before standing and closing the window. “I could’ve sworn I had that closed…”
She crawled back into bed and covered her head with the second pillow silencing the nightmare-inducing noises and closed her eyes, falling back to sleep. She had a few more hours of dreamless sleep before she was awoken by a knocking at the door.
“Ugh,” She whined a bit before rolling onto her side. And fell off the bed. She yelped when she hit the floor, hearing the concerned voices of her teammates. “I’m awake!” She cried, throwing the door open to speak to them. Ruby smoothed her bedhead as she gazed at her team blearily.
“Umm,” She heard Jaune start. A faint thump and a whimper signaled to her that Nora kicked Jaune before he could speak. Ruby shot a thankful glance at the ginger bruiser before closing the door and slumping against it. She had a lot to process and not a lot of time to get ready. She changed quickly into her cape and combat skirt.
“I need you, little rose petal…” The whisper caressed the edges of her mind.
I know. And I’ll do my best to help. Ruby thought, clipping her hood into place.
Morpheus’ lips curved into a triumphant smile as he stepped away from the mirror, “Good. I’ll be waiting, my little rose petal.”