RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 117: Rescue Mission

Crimson stepped out of Salem's cell, his expression unreadable as the weight of her revelation pressed heavily on his shoulders. Without hesitation, he pulled out his scroll and began calling the people he trusted most: his father, his sisters, and the others he had fought alongside. They needed to know.

The meeting room in Atlas was tense when he arrived. Qrow, Ironwood, Raven, Ruby, Yang, and the rest of Team RWBY were gathered, waiting for an explanation. Crimson wasted no time. He recounted what Salem had told him—her cruel experiments and most importantly, the fate of Summer Rose.

When he finished, the room was dead silent. The disbelief in their eyes was almost tangible.

Qrow was the first to react, his expression twisting with rage. He slammed his fist on the table as he stood. "That's it. I'm going down there and cutting that bitch's throat myself!"

"No," Crimson said firmly, raising a hand to stop him. "She took a step forward, dad. Don't ruin it."

Qrow glared at him, but there was a hesitation in his stance. Crimson's words carried a conviction that was hard to ignore.

Ironwood crossed his arms, his tone skeptical. "How can we be sure she's not lying? She's manipulated us before."

Before Crimson could respond, Raven chimed in, her voice sharp and laced with suspicion. "She is lying. My semblance lets me feel the state of those I'm connected with, and I've felt nothing from Summer for years." Her eyes narrowed. "She's gone. Accept it."

Crimson shook his head, his voice steady and unyielding. "She's not lying." The firmness in his tone silenced any further objections. "Salem described her as neither alive nor dead. That might explain why you've lost your connection, aunt Raven. Mom is in between—caught in whatever twisted experiment Salem's done to her."

The room fell silent again, the gravity of his words settling over them.

Crimson straightened, his voice calm but resolute. "We need an aircraft. We're heading to the Land of Darkness."

Everyone turned to look at him, stunned by his determination. But what he said next shocked them even more. He turned to Ruby, who was sitting quietly, tears welling in her silver eyes. "Ruby, I need you to come with me."

"What?" Ruby's voice was barely a whisper, her face smeared with tears after knowing her mother might be alive. The others were equally taken aback.

"You can't be serious," Qrow interjected, his voice rising. "That place is too dangerous! Take me instead."

Crimson shook his head. "It's not about the danger or strength, dad. It's about her eyes." He took a deep breath before explaining, "I was able to destroy the Grimm inside Salem because she's immortal. I can't do the same to my mother if she's still alive. Ruby is our best chance. Her silver eyes might be the only thing that can stop whatever's happening to mom."

Ruby stared at him, her hands trembling. He wasn't just asking—he was entrusting her with something only she could do, the determination shined in her eyes to save her mother.

Crimson then turned to Ren. "I need you too, Ren. Your semblance will be invaluable."

Ren's face paled slightly at the suggestion. The Land of Darkness was a place no one dared to tread, not even in nightmares. But after a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "I'll do it."

Nora jumped up from her seat. "If Ren's going, then I'm going too!" she declared, her usual enthusiasm masking the fear in her voice.

The rest of the group chimed in, each offering to join the mission, but Crimson shook his head. "We can't bring everyone. This isn't a rescue mission where numbers will help—it's about precision and the right abilities."

After much debate, the group settled on who would go: Crimson, Ruby, Qrow, Raven, and Ren. Yang, however, was left behind, much to her frustration.

"What?" Yang snapped, her voice rising in anger. "First, I had to stay back during the war because of the portal, and now you're making me stay behind again? What am I, an anchor?!"

Raven, unbothered by her daughter's outburst, crossed her arms. "We need someone to maintain my portal. That's not up for debate."

Yang scowled, her fists clenching, but she didn't argue further. The bitterness in her expression was clear, though, as she muttered under her breath, "Fine. Just don't get yourselves killed."

With the team decided, the rest of the day was dedicated to preparations. Crimson was quiet throughout, his focus entirely on the task ahead. Ruby spent her time honing her control over her silver eyes, with Weiss and Blake offering moral support. Ren and Nora gathered supplies while Qrow and Raven prepared aircraft.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group reconvened one last time. Tomorrow, they would leave Atlas and head into the heart of darkness.

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The sun had barely begun to rise when the team of five—Crimson, Ruby, Qrow, Raven, and Ren—boarded the aircraft. The mood was heavy, a quiet tension filling the cabin as the engines roared to life. The mission ahead was unlike any they had faced before, and each member knew what was at stake.

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As the aircraft ascended and set a course for the Land of Darkness, Crimson stood near the front, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He turned to address the group.

"When we reach the Land of Darkness," Crimson began, his voice calm yet commanding, "Dad and Aunt will turn into birds to avoid attracting Grimm. Ruby, you'll handle flying the aircraft. Ren, your focus will be on masking yourself and Ruby from the Grimm. As for me..." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I'll be on top of the aircraft to deal with any Grimm that decide to bother us."

Qrow frowned, his arms crossed. "Wait a minute. If you're out in the open, won't you just attract more Grimm? How does that help?"

Crimson closed his eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, there was a strange, serene stillness in his expression. "Ren," he said, turning to him, "what do you feel?"

Ren tilted his head, focusing on Crimson. After a moment, his eyes widened in surprise. "I... I can't feel anything from you. No emotions, no aura—nothing."

The rest of the group exchanged confused glances.

"This is a state I've attained through peace and meditation," Crimson explained, his tone even. "It is called the selfless state. In this state, I have no desires, no emotions—nothing to attract the Grimm. To them, I'm invisible."

The cabin fell silent as they processed his words. Once again, Crimson had shown them something extraordinary, something beyond their understanding.

Qrow opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly unsure of how to respond. Finally, he muttered, "You keep pulling these strange tricks out of nowhere. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if you figured out how to use magic after a day of meditation."

Ruby and Ren chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. Even Raven raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment.

Crimson allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. "If you want," he offered, "I can guide you through meditation. Who knows? Maybe you'll learn something too."

Qrow rolled his eyes. "Yeah, no thanks. I think I'll stick to what I know."

The brief moment of levity lightened the mood, but only slightly. With their plan set, the team settled into their roles as the aircraft sped toward the Land of Darkness.

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Hours passed as the landscape beneath them grew darker and more desolate. The once-vivid colors of the world faded into an eerie palette of grays and blacks. The oppressive atmosphere of the Land of Darkness seemed to seep into the very air, making it harder to breathe.

"We're almost there," Crimson said, standing and preparing to climb to the top of the aircraft.

As they crossed the threshold into the Land of Darkness, Crimson opened the hatch and pulled himself onto the roof of the aircraft. The wind roared around him, but he remained steady, his sword at the ready. From his vantage point, he scanned the skies, prepared to intercept any Grimm that might approach.

For another hour, the aircraft flew through the darkness, the oppressive silence broken only by the hum of the engines. The group inside worked in perfect synchronization—Ruby focused on flying, her hands steady on the controls, while Ren sat beside her, his semblance masking their presence. Qrow and Raven, in their bird forms, circled the aircraft, keeping an eye out for danger.

Then, in the distance, they saw it: a massive, foreboding castle rising from the shadows like a nightmare brought to life. Its jagged spires pierced the sky, and the dark aura surrounding it was almost palpable.

Crimson tapped the roof of the aircraft, signaling Ruby to descend. The engines hummed as Ruby brought the aircraft down carefully, landing just outside the castle gates.

As the team disembarked, they stood together, staring at the ominous structure before them. The castle loomed over them, its dark walls radiating an almost tangible malice.

Crimson stepped forward, his gaze calm. "This is it," he said, his voice steady. "Stay sharp. We're not leaving without her."

The others nodded, their resolve firm. Together, they approached the castle, ready to face whatever horrors lay within.