Bonus Chapter

Far From Over

"What?! What do you mean they're gone?!" Asgore exclaimed ferociously, slamming his fist into the table.

"Er… perhaps you must go into more detail." Toriel chuckled nervously.

"It's as I said, there have been several reports of missing teams. We simply believe the Grimm are regaining some strength, but… well, there are some tests we ran. The results were… disturbing, to say the least." The officer said with his voice wavering as a holographic screen showed a chart with stats beyond even the barrier at Mt. Ebott.

"What… what is this?" Asgore choked on his words.

"Temporal disruptions and spacial tearing. Simply put, those teams are not in this world anymore." The officer explained.

"That's impossible! The only way would be if Gaster allowed it, and we haven't seen him since the Demon War!" Toriel exclaimed suddenly.

"It's true that Gaster has been missing, and perhaps this is a prank from him. However, we have data on the residual energy from that temporal distortion, and this is far beyond that." The officer stated, showing another graph next to the primary one. The stats were obviously leagues apart.

"This… is insane. What do we do?" Asgore ran his paw through his fur.

"What we do…" The elevator door opened up to reveal a young lad, "is not panic. Whoever this causer of this distortion is will reveal himself in due time. They always do. A villain can't help but come into the spotlight."

Asgore stood. "Who are you, boy?"

"And after that, I would very much like to have my cane back." The boy said.

Asgore stumbled back. "Oz? Where have you been?! It's been ages, my friend!" Asgore laughed as he put a paw on the boy.

"Yes it has, Asgore. But in this form, you may refer to me as Oscar." Ozpin said.

"Oscar, huh? Well then, Oscar, I'm glad you showed up." Asgore smiled warmly.

Suddenly the light in Oscar's eyes faded. "Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you, sir."

"Now then, about the cane, I'm afraid Qrow had it last." Asgore said.

"And… where is he?" Oscar asked.

"Last I heard, he was at Patch, visiting his in-laws." Asgore answered.

"Patch. Right. Uh… you wouldn't happen to have the address, right?" Oscar asked awkwardly.

*later*

Oscar looked at the house, then back at the note. "This is the right address, but… well, I guess they're a humble bunch." Oscar sighed as he put the note in his pocket. He heard the laughter of children and adults inside.

He hesitated in knocking, worried he might interrupt. But he remembered what was happening.

'They all have to know. Otherwise… he'll get them too.' Ozpin said.

Then Oscar nodded, and knocked on the door. Soon, a woman wrapped in a red cloak came to the door. "Hello. Can I help you?"

"You…" Oscar said a bit dumbfounded. 'Crap. Of course I had to talk to an amazingly cute girl.' "You have silver eyes…"

The woman was clearly struck by this. "Who are you?"

"Auntie Rose, who is it?" A young boy asked.

"My name is Oscar Pine. I heard I could find Mister Qrow here?" Oscar said.

"Uh, alright." The woman said. She turned back inside. "Uncle Qrow! Someone's here to see you!"

Shortly after, a large man came to the door, who Oscar guessed to be Qrow. "What're you here for, pipsqueak?"

"Well… this is a bit awkward to ask, but… I'd like my cane back." Oscar said.

The mug in Qrow's hand fell to the ground, along with his jaw. "Qrow, you alright?"

"Uh- YES! I mean- crud! Uh, Ruby, get him some tea. Something nice. Or just- get him anything he wants. He's a guest now." Qrow stuttered with each word as he ran up the stairs.

"Why'd he get so flustered over a cane? Did he steal from you?" Ruby asked.

"Oh no. No, nothing like that. He simply borrowed it for a while for safe keeping. I'll explain later, once everyone is here." Oscar said. He then saw how young the boy was. "Uhm, and we might also have to move the kids elsewhere."

'Uh oh.' Ruby thought.

"Aunt, who is this man?" The young boy asked.

"He's our guest, Yin. Can you do me a favor and find Yang for me?" Ruby asked.

"Sure thing, aunt!" Yin said enthusiastically. He then ran off upstairs.

"So who are you?" Ruby asked.

'Crap, now I'm alone with an amazingly cute girl!' Oscar thought as he tried to get his thoughts clear. "Um… well, it might be better with Qrow here to explain."

"Why? Are you old friends or something?" Ruby asked.

"Well… in a way." Oscar nodded as he sat on the sofa. Qrow later came back with Ozpin's cane. "Ah, thank you."

"A little scratched up from the war, but it should be as good as before." Qrow nodded.

Ruby stared at the cane. "Wait… WAIT!"

"You catch on quick, kiddo. Yup, say hello to your old headmaster." Qrow smirked.

"But… you look nothing like Ozpin! He had white hair, and glasses, and not freckles! Besides, he was waaaay taller!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Glad to see the war didn't completely take away your sense of humor." Oscar chuckled with his eyes glowing rather brightly.

"Wait, is this some sort of possession situation? Is Ozpin trapped inside Oscar or something?!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Ugh, it's eight in the morning. Can you tone it down a bit sis?" Yang sighed as she came downstairs. She then stared at Oscar, then at the cane in his hand, and back at Oscar. "Uh, what did I miss?"

"Nothing at all. Please, sit down." Ozpin said. "I was actually waiting for you to join us."

Cautiously, Yang sat down. "So what's this about?"

"Tell me, where are the others? Team JNPR, PAUS, and the rest of your team?" Ozpin asked.

"Well, Jaune and Pyrrha moved in to Vale a while ago, Ren and Nora moved back to Mistral, Weiss is spending some time with family- er, what's left of it anyway. And Blake moved to Menagerie with her family as well. As for Papyrus, Sans, and Alphys… I dunno. They used to write to us in Atlas, but they just stopped a while ago." Ruby explained.

"Did they call or anything?" Ozpin asked.

"No. It just feels like they fell off the face of Remnant." Yang shrugged.

"Perhaps they did. For heroes such as them to be claimed by Distortion…" Ozpin muttered to himself.

"Uh, claimed by who?" Yang asked.

"Wait, don't tell me Distortion is back?!" Qrow exclaimed.

"Yes. From certain data and rather disturbing reports, it's safe to say Distortion is revived."

"Can you stop being vague for a second and tell us who this Distortion guy is?!" Yang exclaimed.

"Distortion is a terrifying being- perhaps even more powerful than Iserlan. He goes by many names across the multiverse. Many call him Distortion, like us, but others refer to him as Iserrule, or even Chaos. There are many other names with it. But his power- a terrifying one. He has the absolute power of temporal and spatial disruption. In short, he's a more powerful version of Gaster. You remember him, right?"

"Yeah, he sent Eric, Kieta, and Cinder back in time, right?" Ruby asked.

"Yes. So if Gaster has that power, I bet you can begin to see what kind of power Distortion has." Ozpin said.

"Oh my God." Yang said with a pit in her stomach.

"Yes. And if not dealt with quickly, he can form enough power to rip apart reality itself, and merge world that should never have intersected." Ozpin said.

"The we find him and kick his superpowered butt! Just like with Iserlan!" Ruby exclaimed.

"I'm afraid your eagerness is misplaced. To take on Distortion headon with only the four holy swords, it would be a kin to suicide." Ozpin said. He looked directly into Ruby's eyes. "Even if you mastered those eyes' powers, it wouldn't be enough. He is beyond any power or might in this world. Even my power is miniscule compared to him."

"My eyes' power? What does that mean?" Ruby asked.

"The true power of the silver eyes. They are more than a repel to evil, like you may think. If mastered, you could take on practically anything aside from the gods.: Ozpin stated.

"Ruby has that kind of power?! Why didn't you say before now?!" Yang exclaimed.

"Because the path to mastering the silver eyes is treacherous. That's how your mother died, by pursuing this power." Ozpin said.

"Mom died trying to master this?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, which is why I refrained from telling you its true power until now." Ozpin said.

"Either way, you're saying this Distortion guy won't be defeated by this power?" Yang asked.

"Yes. Even now, his power grows. And with each moment, his power spreads across our world. And the numerous disappearances of huntsmen teams is all thanks to him."

Suddenly, the TV was switched on. "This just in, the capital of Atlas has vanished!" The report was followed by an overview shot of a giant crater where Atlas used to be.

"No way…" Ruby gasped.

"Weiss…" Yang choked up.

"We have no idea of the cause of this paranormal activity, but-" suddenly, the feed cut off. No matter what channel they switched to, it was all static.

"It has begun. I apologize." Ozpin said.

"Yang, where is Yin?" Ruby asked.

"No idea. I heard his voice, but didn't hear it after I woke up." Yang answered.

"No." Ruby shot up and rushed upstairs. "YIN! YIN!" She tripped on a small pair of shoes. Yin's shoes. "No. No, no no no!" She rushed around the house, frantically searching for the missing child. And when she came downstairs, the others were gone as well. "Ozpin? Qrow?! YANG!?"

Suddenly, the TV turned back on. There was only black on the screen. No sound.

"Stop messing with me. GIVE THEM BACK!"

A silent sound emitted from the screen. It soon got louder, and it made Ruby's entire body freeze.

"Fade with me. Disappear with me. Know my pain, ye gods of unaging hell. Come with me. Vanish with me. Reality is only for those that look on the surface. Run with me. Die with me. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die." Then it kept repeating the same word, like a broken record player. Ruby fell to her knees. Tears escaped her eyes as she whimpered.

"Stop this. Please. Give them back." Ruby sobbed.

"Die. Die. Die."

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT, YOU MONSTER!?" Ruby shouted.

"Die. Die."

She felt her legs vanish. She looked at her hands. They turned to dust.

"Die."

Her cloak became blood.

"Die."

She lost vision, and she heard one last thing as the world became empty.

"Die."

To be concluded

Rose of the Underground: Escape Reality

Coming Soon