RWBY: Moon Reflection

An entire week had passed since the catastrophic events at Beacon. Yet, the scars left behind were still fresh, etched into the hearts of those who survived. The broadcast from that night played endlessly in the minds of the people, a haunting reminder of the faith that had been shattered. The slaughter of innocents at the hands of grimm and rogue Atlas robots alike left devastation on a scale rarely seen. It was, by all accounts, a disaster of immeasurable proportions.

With the destruction of Beacon, Vale's greatest line of defense crumbled. Without its protective guadian, the kingdom was vulnerable. grimm attacks became more frequent, and the surviving huntsmen and soldiers found themselves in a grueling, unending battle against an endless tide of darkness. The people of Vale, once sheltered by the towering walls and the hope Beacon symbolized, now lived in fear, their nights filled with nightmares that often became reality.

To make matters worse, the trust between the kingdoms fractured. Though everyone knew it was a terrorist attack orchestrated by the White Fang and their allies, Atlas bore the brunt of the blame. Their reputation plummeted. The sight of Atlas' advanced robots turning against the people they were built to protect was a betrayal that the public could not forgive. And the revelation that Penny Polendina, a weapon disguised as an innocent girl, had played a pivotal role in the chaos only deepened the mistrust.

Amidst this turmoil, unity among the kingdoms dissolved. Teams from other kingdoms, seeing the futility of the situation, chose to return home rather than fight a war they believed was already lost. Even students from Beacon began to leave Vale. Weiss Schnee was among them. Her father had demanded her return to Atlas, and though she loathed the idea of leaving her friends, she had no choice but to obey.

Blake Belladonna, too, disappeared without a word. Her departure struck a painful blow to her team, especially Yang. Yang felt betrayed by the person she once trusted most, while Ruby, still reeling from the loss of her teammates, struggled to make sense of Blake's actions.

The fractures in their unity deepened further when Jaune Arc, the leader of Team JNPR, announced his decision to leave. The devastation and death around him had extinguished his desire to become a huntsman. No amount of persuasion from his teammates or friends could change his mind. He saw himself as weak and pathetic, unworthy of the title he had once aspired to. "I couldn't even help Pyrrha," he said bitterly, his voice heavy with regret. "She went to her death alone because of me." Eventually, his team relented, believing that perhaps it was better for him to leave and heal in his own way.

Pyrrha Nikos, however, chose to stay, despite her injuries. Her ankle was irreparably damaged, and the road to recovery would be long and arduous. Her family begged her to return to Mistral, but Pyrrha refused. She couldn't abandon the people of Vale, not after everything they had endured. Alongside Ren and Nora, she relocated to Patch Island. While Pyrrha remained on the island to recuperate, Ren and Nora frequently ventured back to Vale, doing what they could to combat the relentless grimm.

In these dark and desperate times, people clung to any sliver of hope they could find. It was then that a rumor began to spread—a tale of a hero who had risen from the populace. Unlike the huntsmen, he bore no formal title or affiliation, yet he stood against the chaos when others faltered.

The stories told of a young man who drew power from the moon itself. He was said to have faced hordes of grimm and rogue robots, cutting them down with unparalleled skill. He had rushed to Beacon in its darkest hour, defeating White Fang operatives and the preparator of this disaster, Cinder Fall—the same woman who had slain Headmaster Ozpin.

The rumors grew more fantastic. It was said that this hero had faced and slain a colossal dragon grimm single-handedly. Their battle caused tremors that were felt throughout the city, and the dragon's fall was witnessed by many. He had also gone to the aid of General Ironwood's embattled forces, ensuring their survival.

To the people, he was a savior. Many began calling him the "Moon Hero," a figure of hope in an age of despair. Yet, not all viewed him with admiration. Among White Fang sympathizers, his name carried a darker connotation: the "Moon Demon." Tales of the horrifying fate he dealt to misguided Faunus spread like wildfire, painting him as a vengeful force that spared no mercy.

Amid the chaos and division, one thing was clear—whether hero or demon, the Moon Hero had become a symbol of power and defiance, a force that refused to be broken in a world teetering on the edge of collapse.

________________________

Crimson, like many others, bore the physical toll of that fateful night. His body was covered in minor cuts, burns and bruises, but the most severe injuries were his shattered left arm, where the powerful jaws of a major ursa had crushed the bones, and his fractured ribs. Doctors were astonished that he had managed to run and fight in such a condition. Though Crimson dismissed the pain, claiming it wasn't as bad as it seemed, neither the medical staff nor his family believed him.

Bandaged but resolute, Crimson decided to visit his art school. It had been situated in one of the areas heavily invaded by Grimm during the chaos. Though the Grimm had been driven away, the extent of the damage remained uncertain. His family protested, citing his unhealed injuries, but eventually relented under one condition: Qrow and Ruby would accompany him.

When the trio arrived, Crimson stood before the ruins of the school, his face a mask of calm that failed to hide the turmoil beneath. The building had been reduced to rubble, the surrounding area bearing the scars of destruction. Ruby and Qrow remained silent, their expressions somber as they took in the devastation.

Crimson moved through the debris with measured steps, his eyes scanning the wreckage until they fell upon a familiar sight. Amid the shattered remnants of his school, he found his biwa—a creation he had poured his heart and soul into. It lay broken and splintered, a victim of the chaos. He knelt down, lifting the ruined instrument with a gentleness that belied his injuries.

Qrow, attempting to lighten the mood, gestured to the biwa. "What's that? Looks like a guitar, but not quite."

"It's a biwa," Crimson replied, his voice steady but distant. "I created it myself. Spent months working on it, and it was finally finished right before the festival."

The weight of Crimson's words made Qrow regret his attempt at levity. Ruby watched in silence, her eyes darting between Crimson and the broken biwa.

Without warning, Crimson tossed the shattered instrument aside, the clatter startling both Qrow and Ruby. They stared at him in shock, but he simply shrugged, a faint smile on his face. "I made it once," he said lightly. "I can make it again."

The trio left the ruins, heading back toward the city. As they passed a collapsed section of the street, a familiar voice called out to Crimson. Turning, they saw Cyan, a former classmate and fellow orchestra member. Cyan looked devastated, his eyes red from crying.

Seeing Crimson, Cyan broke down. "We were all there, Crimson. We gathered to watch the tournament when everything went wrong. The Grimm came… the robots turned on us… the school was destroyed. Everyone… everyone's dead." His voice cracked as he pointed to himself. "I'm the only one left!"

Crimson stood silently, his crimson eyes locked onto Cyan's.

Cyan's grief and anguish asked "Where were you? Why didn't you come to help us? I heard about Crimson Rose, the hero who came to save Beacon and fought valiantly. Was that you?"

"Yes," Crimson answered evenly, his tone devoid of emotion. "I had priorities. I couldn't waste time helping our school. And if I had to choose again, I'd make the same choice."

Cyan's eyes widened, then narrowed in rage. "You… heartless demon!" he shouted before throwing a punch with all his strength. Crimson didn't flinch, letting the blow connect, but Qrow immediately stepped forward, placing himself between them.

Intimidated by Qrow's presence, Cyan stumbled back, his anger giving way to fear. He glared at Crimson one last time. "You're a monster!" he spat before storming off, his curses echoing in the empty streets.

Qrow turned to Crimson, his brow furrowed in disapproval. "Why did you say that? The kid's hurting. You didn't have to be so heartless."

Crimson's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "He's blaming himself for surviving while the others died," he said quietly. "It's easier to hate someone else than to hate yourself. At least when you blame someone else, you can forget the pain eventually. But when you blame yourself… you never forget."

Qrow choked on a response, struggling to find the words. Ruby lowered her head, her hands trembling slightly as she absorbed Crimson's explanation.

Crimson turned to them, a faint, bitter smile on his face. "He's not wrong. I am a heartless demon. It's better that way."

Ruby opened her mouth to protest, but Crimson cut her off. "Let's go home. There's nothing left here."

The three of them walked away from the ruins, the weight of loss heavy on their shoulders.