An Anon's Journey: Remnant Act 1

V3E7: Doubt and Faith

Ruby had been nervous all day. Since the diner trip with Hope and Penny, she's had a weight on her heart that wouldn't stop hurting. She has been avoiding them since then as well. So much so, that she missed Yang and Weiss's match against Neon Kat and Flynt Coal of Team FNKI just because they were both there to support their home teams.

And to top it all off, Ozpin had called her to his office.

The last time she came, she had fought against that infiltrator during the Vytal Dance. The Vytal dance... Didn't Anon and Penny dance together during it? She didn't get the chance to but Penny did... No, she wasn't interested in dancing at the time and she had to deal with Yang's drunken nonsense... But maybe if she did... She could have danced with Anon?

Ruby whimpered as she held her aching heart.

"Why does it hurt when I think about them..."

The elevator reached the top, a characteristic ding announcing her presence as the doors opened for her. Ozpin flashed a warm smile but Ruby saw right through the headmaster's facade. That smile, it reminded her of Hope's when they first met. A smile that she now understood was forced.

"Greetings, Miss Rose." He waved her in, motioning to the chair that faced his desk. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

Ruby glumly nodded her head, obeying the headmaster.

"I don't think I'm up for being comfortable at the moment, Headmaster..."

Ozpin's brow furrowed at Ruby's comment but after seeing her clutch her torso, he became less cold.

"Ah. It seems to be that time for you." he misconstrued. "Would you like some water?"

"No, thank you." she rejected.

The headmaster nodded before sitting down at his desk before pulling up holographic screens connected to his computer. He silently worked for a few minutes before Ruby piped up again, still withdrawn.

"Mister Ozpin, Why did you call me up here?" she asked. "Am... Am I in trouble?"

Ozpin shook his head silently, putting the finishing touches on his work before saving and putting them aside.

"Miss Rose, may I ask you a seemingly odd question?"

Ruby nodded, allowing the oldest soul to continue.

"What is your favourite fairy tale?"

Ruby squinted in confusion.

"That's a weird question." she looked down pensively. "I... I like the Balance Lady."

Ozpin smiled.

"Ah yes, Two extremist twin brothers are in an argument and it takes a wise mortal woman to break them up."

For once since she came to his office, Ruby smiled, although weakly.

"Yeah. I also like the Everafter story."

Ozpin hummed to himself.

"That old story?"

"Yeah, you know about it?"

"It's been a while but I remember the gist of it. When we die, our souls leave our bodies and end up in the Everafter. A land of pure imagination where you can live out your dreams and fantasies until you've had your fill and move on back into the cycle of reincarnation."

"Yeah." Ruby smiled sadly. "I like to think that the story's true. Mom's probably doing whatever she dreamed of doing when she was a little girl... Or maybe she's dreaming of a life where she never left us..."