RWBY: Crisis Of The Dark Multiverse

Chapter One - Events Set In Motion

Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that they are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past. Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness - creatures of destruction - the creatures of Grimm - set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void. However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds. Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life. But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone, darkness will return. That darkness's name is Salem. Once a kind woman until cursed with immortality by the Gods, Salem seeks nothing more than destruction. For thousands of years, Salem has been biding her time, preparing for the day she may finally achieve the destruction she so craved. One night in the Evernight Castle, Salem's Cabal have been summoned to Salem's Throne Room. Inside the Throne Room, Salem was tinkering with a Seer. When they approached the Throne, they bowed before Salem.

Cinder: You summoned me, my master?

Salem: There is a great disturbance, Cinder. At first it was such a quiet thing. I did not notice it. But now I wonder if it has always been there, I merely did not sense it before. The sound built so slowly, but when you listen for it, you can out out the strains, even over the background life of this world.

Cinder: What do you mean?

Salem: Since time immemorial, there have always been stories of....other worlds beyond the fabric of our own.

Hazel: Other worlds? That seems far fetched.

Watts: It's not entirely impossible. A few of my former colleagues back in Atlas have theorized the possibility of a Multiverse.

Mercury: You're gonna have to explain that one, Doc.

Watts: To put it into...simple terms, the Multiverse is the hypothetical set of all universes. Together, these universes are presumed to comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, information, and the physical laws and constants that describe them.

Emerald: So you're saying that there's a possibility that...there's countless parallel worlds?

Watts: That's the theory. It's not a new, testable scientific prediction, but rather a theoretical consequence that's unavoidable. For example, there could be a universe where all our roles were reversed in which Salem would be Remnant's savior and guardian while Ozpin in the herald of darkness.

Upon hearing this, the rest of Salem's cabal fell silent. The possibility of the Multiverse existing seemed far fetched. But at the same time, the possibility of the Multiverse could present an array of opportunity that can be exploited. Salem opted for the latter.

Salem: Many have dismissed it as mere fantasy, even myself at one point. Now I am convinced that unlocking those secrets could prove invaluable to our grand plan for Remnant. All we need is to seek it out....

Salem then uses her magic to try and pinpoint and harness the disturbance. As Salem attempted to harness the disturbance, a strange power began to build up in within the Seer. As the power began to build up, a black dome of energy began to surround the Seer. What followed was a powerful but contained explosion which knocked everyone back by Salem. From within the smoke where the Seer was, a figure was standing at the center of the throne room. As the smoke was beginning to clear, Salem's cabal seemed to see what appeared to be Ruby Rose. At first, Cinder Fall and the others were prepared to attack, but Salem gestured to stop, sensing that there was something different about the figure standing before them. When the smoke cleared, they got a closer look at the figure standing before them. While it was Ruby Rose, this was not the Ruby Rose they knew. Her cloak was a dark shade of red and had tears in it. Her skin was much like Salem's and her Silver Eyes seemed corrupted.

Salem: Interesting.....would your name happened to be....Ruby Rose?

As Salem spoke her name, the corrupted Ruby glanced over to Cinder Fall and the rest of the Cabal before turning her gaze upon Salem. After a moment, Grimm Ruby glanced over to Salem.

Grimm Ruby: Salem....

Grimm Ruby fell silent as she surveyed her surroundings. Immediately, Cinder and the others became suspicious of her. After a moment of silence, Grimm Ruby began to laugh.

Grimm Ruby: A smaller, more honest soul... It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope, breathe fire into the hearts of the weary. The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute. But all roads....lead to darkness.....

Without warning, Grimm Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose and attacked Salem and her Cabal. Despite being outnumbered, Grimm Ruby was able to take down the members of Salem's Cabal with ease.

Grimm Ruby: I could kill you, you know....like I did before....but that would be too easy. I want you to watch as all that you have built is thrust into darkness....

Grimm Ruby then uses her Petal Burst to escape from the Evernight Castle. In that moment, the Grimm Ruby was on the loose in this version of Remnant. Events had been set in motion that would threaten to plunge Remnant into the Dark Multiverse.