Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Prologue [RWBY SI]

Prologue

While most people would rather spend their Saturday afternoons in the comfort of their homes, watching some movies or enjoying a nice cup of coffee, Charon preferred his to be a bit more wild. Having jumped on his kayak that morning, the young man whistled a jaunty tune as he paddled merrily along the meandering tributary of the great Mississippi river.

Overgrown and untamed, there was simply something magical about this part of the river. Under the shadows of waterlogged trees, thick overhanging moss, all but the faintness of light filtered through, almost like starlight as they glittered overhead. With the songs of the birds and insects filling the air, Charon felt child-like wonder fill his heart.

"Man, I wished they could see these," He whispered as he closed his eyes and listened to the song of the forest. While most of his friends would have felt unease, to Charon, this dimly lit world felt like home. He wasn't sure why, but there was something inviting to the darkness of the undergrowth.

It was there, in the depths of wilderness where he was just himself. Away from all the distractions and away from just everything, he could finally think. His thoughts were his only companions as he all but lost himself to his dreams, even as temporary and fleeting as they may be.

Shivering at the cold air, he opened his eyes, returning to the land of the living once more. Often he wished that he could just sit back and let the waters guide him through this wonderland, but ss dreamlike this place might be, he still had to be mindful. Its waters can be treacherous, tricking the unsuspecting with its placid waters.

Reaching for his pack, he pulled out a stone before throwing at a 'log', one that quickly moved out of the way as they slunk beneath the calm duckweed choked backwaters. Still, as dangerous as it was, the rewards were worth it as birds flew overhead. Smiling, he reached for his pocket and took a quick shot, capturing their likeness of these rare birds in his phone.

"In the gallery you go," He whispered as he lost himself in this world, heading deeper and eager to see what the river had in store for him. He had paddled up and down this stretch of the river, but there was always something new to be found. A fallen tree he had to slip under, wild life scampering along branches or flying overhead, and even the whistle and strange cries of the unknown.

Grinning ear to ear, he felt a shiver of excitement at that thought. He might be a little addicted to the rush. Was this what travellers and explorers back in the days felt when they stepped into a whole new world to shed light on these mythical lands? "A shame that everything's just about explored," He sighed as he pulled out his phone.

Even out here, there was some signal and speaking off, he just had a call. Maybe he shouldn't have set it to silent. "You're uncle's cooking some ribs," His mother texted.

"God damn it," He cursed as he reached up and combed through his dusty white hair. Why did his uncle have to cook ribs right now of all things. He definitely should have eaten something more substantial than just trail mix.

"I should go back," He muttered, feeling his stomach grumble in protest, before he glanced at his heavy pack. He was planning on visiting one of the lakes near his town and maybe stay there for the weekends. He even packed the essentials. He had his sleeping bag, snacks, packed meals, his backpacking gear, his trusty old shotgun and even a radio and the old hand me down GPS if things get hairy. He was adventurous, not suicidal.

Was he really going to turn around now for some ribs? "Fuck it," He muttered as he quickly typed back, "Save some for me in the fridge. Still heading to the lake." Food was temporary, adventure was forever. Besides, it's not like he couldn't make his own barbecue.

"Ok, take care out there," His mother quickly replied before his phone rang again, "Just remember what your grandfather taught you."

"Love you too mom," He whispered as a small smile stretched across his lips. Sliding back his phone in his pocket, he whistled once more as he continued down the river. His mother worried too much. With what his grandpapi taught him, he doubted he'd get lost.

"Though getting a bit lost might be a bit fun," He whispered, imagining himself having to trek back to civilization, before dreading the worry his family would have. "But far too much trouble." Sometimes, dreams just have to stay dreams.

As he traveled down a familiar stretch of the river, he soon found the air growing heavy. Breathing in the cold chill, he watched as a fog slowly rolled across the river. "Huh, a bit too early in the year for a fogbank," He muttered, trusting instincts borne from paddling across these waters since he was a small tyke.

Still, there was something strange about this fog. Peering into the mist, he frowned as it thickened, enough that even the trees slowly started to fade into the background. So thick it was that he could barely even see the ends of his boat. "Fuckin hell…"

He hadn't seen things like this before, but the Climate had been off kilter for a while. "Maybe it's a good idea to head back," He muttered as he looked back, only to find it just as hazy as up ahead. It seemed that the fog had rolled atop him.

Looking back ahead, he shrugged, "Forward it is then." It's not like he hadn't encountered one before, even if they weren't as thick as this one. "But better keep an eye open." Would be a bitch and a half to hit something, or someone. "Ol' Chomper, you better fuck off."

Clutching his paddle, he forged on. Even as the river grew silent and the darkness started to creep in, he held steady even as his heart started to pick its pace. Breathing in deeply, he whispered, "It's just a fog, nothing to be scared off." Still, his words would feel empty to what lay ahead.

Gone was the welcoming solitude of the river, now he was greeted by the desolation of a familiar path turned treacherous. Without what little light that shone and markers to guide his way, his grip on time started to slip. He wasn't sure how long she paddled or how far he had gone, but feeling it stretch on was starting to get to him

Hadn't he been paddling for hours? The lake should be up ahead if he did, but… No, that can't be right, he thought to himself. He felt tired, his arm starting to get sore as the weight of uncertainty settled on his shoulder. Was he still even in the same river? He couldn't even see the banks at this point.

As he closed his eyes to get his bearing back, he heard it. There, in the depths of the fog, he heard the most haunting voice call out, "Red like roses fills my dream and brings me to the place you rest…"

Cutting through the fog, the woman's song echoed across the vast emptiness, rooting him on the spot. Who are you…" He whispered as he listened on, enchanted by their longing and sadness. Called up by this siren's song, he ventured on, his strength renewed in his search for this mysterious singer.

A part of him screamed at him to turn back, warning him of danger. It could be his own mind playing tricks, or something so much worse, but something about their voice called to him, urging him to follow their voice; one filled with such sorrow and hopelessness. It was as if they were calling for help.

As he paddled down a path he hadn't seen before, and the voice got clearer, he called out, "Hello! Is someone there?"

Startled, the voice choked out, "Bwah!?"

He almost burst out laughing at the adorable squeak they made, though thankfully, he managed to hold it together. "I didn't mean to startle you!" He called out as he finally saw the banks of the shore once more along with the rotten remains of an old pier. Perhaps he had just wandered aimlessly in the lake and he didn't know it?

"I was just passing by when I heard someone singing!" And thankfully, he did as the fog started to lift somewhat. It was still overcast, but it was a far cry from earlier. He could even hear the birds and insects in the background. The weather was finally clearing, giving him a good glimpse of this mysterious singer.

There, sitting by her lonesome, was a white hood figure who looked at him wide eyed with surprise. He had never seen a woman like her around this part of the woods and not one so pretty at that. Staring back at those striking silver eyes, it took a moment for him to gather his bearings as he averted his gaze and cleared his throat, "Sorry about that ma'am."

Hopefully, she could forgive him for staring too much. He really didn't want to make such a poor impression, especially with one armed with a strange, but still deadly sharp looking axe on their belt. Though a heavy silence settled between them, he asked, "Is everything ok?"

This quickly got her attention as she blinked before asking,"You… you can hear me?" That certainly caught his attention as he raised his brow.

"Yeah," He replied, wondering why she looked so confused. While distressed, she certainly doesn't look disheveled or starving. Still, appearance could be deceiving and he wasn't one to turn away from someone in need in help.

Slowly, the woman got up on shaky legs as she stared at him with such intensity. "You can hear me right? You could actually hear me sing?" She asked frantically, as if she hadn't seen or talked to someone in ages.

"Of course," He nodded as he gave her a reassuring smile, "Would be hard to miss someone with such a beautiful voice."

Immediately, her eyes lit up as she started jumping with joy. "He can hear me!" She cheered as he skipped and twirled across the broken pier, "Oh Monty, he can hear me-gah!" An act that quickly got her in trouble as her leg broke through the rotten wood of the pier.

Red faced, the woman sat there while her leg dangled beneath her. "You know I can see you, right?" He chuckled, trying to hide his smile. She was quite the quirky girl, and incredibly cute. She was definitely not from around her, not with that kind of dress.

"S-sorry about that," She coughed, dusting herself as she fixed her coat, "It's been a while since I saw people."

Giving her a once over, he found himself growing confused. While she wore sensible boots, the stocking and her skirt felt more at place at a Cosplay convention. She was certainly rocking it though as her dress hugged her shapely figure. As she started shifting in place, her cheeks turning an adorable pink, he blinked.

Coughing, he quickly changed subjects, "Really liking the cape." He shouldn't have been staring, but this woman was just something else. She was unlike the girls from his school…

Giggling, the woman replied, "I like your hair-! I mean your jacket as well! Very comfy!" It seems that he wasn't the only one staring.

Laughing, he replied "It's alright. I get that a lot" While she had those crazy grey eyes, he had his white mop of hair. Reaching up, he ruffled his thick ashen locks. "Nothing wrong with liking it though. It makes me stand out." He used to hate it, but it became a point of pride for him, even if taming it can be a challenge.

"It's so fluffy…" She whispered, reaching out to him before flinching. Biting her lips, she gazed away, before looking back at him. "Can I touch it?"

"Maybe," He chuckled as he paddled to the shore, "But not before I get you back to safety." The girl was clearly lost. While those boots looked worn and the coat looked like it had been through quite the number, she just stood out like a sore thumb. "I take it that you've been wandering around for a bit, huh?"

As he disembarked, she gave her a look, before blinking. "Oh, right! Of course," She nodded hastily as she scratched her cheeks, "I sorta wandered in this place…?" Just as he suspected.

"Well lucky for you, I could point you where the town is," He offered as he looked around, before pausing as he found himself looking at unfamiliar trees. Gone were the thick cypress, replaced by Sugar Maples? "The hell…" It looked like she wasn't the one that's lost.

Pulling out his phone, he frowned. No bars… that's not good. Reaching for his pack, he rifled around before fishing out his trusty GPS. While old and from the 90s', it was still perfectly functional. Turning it on, he paced, desperately wondering where the hell he was. "Is something wrong?" His new found companion asked as she skipped over, hands resting on the head of her strange axe.

[No Signal]

Frowning, he turned the device off as he smiled, "No, just having a bit of technical trouble." Seeing how worried she was, he didn't want her to panic. As terrifying as it was to see those words in his device, having her panic would be far more problematic. Accidents happen when people panic.

"Vale's forest can be a bit tricky," The woman replied with a wry smile, "But I'm sure there's still some signal here. Every town should have coverage…."

Pausing, he turned to the woman and whispered, "Vale?" That doesn't sound anywhere close to his town's name or any place he knew in Arkansas. Shaking his head, he reached for his radio, hoping and praying that she wasn't wrong.

Surprisingly, it turned to life, blasting garbled music through the static. "Huh… that's weird," He muttered as he bit his thumbs, "My radio's fine, but my GPS is down."

He'd never seen this happen before. He'd seen his radio cut out when he got too deep in a valley and his phone's signal crap out on a long road trip, but never his GPS. What's even more concerning was the look of bewilderment she sent his way.

"GPS?" She asked as she tilted her head.

"You know, Satellites up in space giving us an accurate read on where we are?" He replied, gesturing at the sky above, "That kind of stuff." All he got however was a blank look of incomprehension. He had to hold back a curse as he felt dread settle in the bottom of his stomach.

"Are you talking about the CCT Tower Network? I could show you where we are…" She asked before perking up as the music in the radio shifted, "Hey, that's my favorite song!" It was starting to look like he was the one that's lost, not her.

Running his hands across his hair, he wondered what he was going to do. He was lost, terribly so. These weren't the woods he grew up in. He wasn't even sure if he was in the same state. He… he needs to check his supplies. While it looked like the woman was from here, she still looked quite lost. He needed to know if they'd last the journey back to civilization.

Just as he was about to walk back to his boat, he felt strong hands grab his arms, "Wait!" Turning, he found the woman looking up at him with surprise, "I… can touch you?" Before he could process what she just said, she jolted. On alert, she hushed him sharply as she tensed up, "Don't move." Small hands gripping him tightly, she warned him, "Not a muscle!"

As he opened his mouth to protest, he felt something stir. He felt it deep in his chest, this rumble that shook him to the very core. It was an all too familiar sound, but something deeper, something more primal that the cold part of his mind screamed in terror. Something was in the water and it did not like them.

Turning, he started to boil as a creature from his nightmare rose from the waters. Stark white and with a bony hide riddled with swords and spears, this titanic alligator peeked out from the water, its eyes unseeing as it looked around, nostrils flaring. Swallowing, Charon felt his heart race, beating faster as it slowly turned its gaze at him.

Sweat poured down his brow as the empty sockets blazed into fire as they opened, revealing terrible knowing eyes that stared right at him. "Oh no," He whispered before he was deafened by the bone rattling below of the prehistoric nightmare.

As a creature from the depths of time launched itself out of the depths, he felt hands push him aside, "Run!" With the air knocked out of his lungs, He felt time crawl as he sailed across the air. Reaching out to the woman, he watched in horror as the giant maw of the creature opened up revealing rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth.

The last thing he saw as those jaws swallowed the woman whole was their smile and their lips moving. Pain quickly filled his vision as his back crashed against the tree and the sound of wood tearing filled the air. "No!" Bolting to his feet, he reached out, before pausing as he saw the woman standing there unharmed

Mouth agape, she stared at her hands before gazing up to the creature that had crashed in the tree line. Bigger than any Semi he'd seen and meaner than even his own teachers, this monster of an alligator slowly got up. Eyes burning in determination, she stepped forward and white petals filled the clearing.

Turning, the creature opened its mouth as its stomach ballooned, but the woman was already on them. "Oh no you don't!" The woman shouted, her axe raised up high, before slamming down on the creature hard.

Ground shattered as the creature's jaws snapped shut, letting out a pathetic gurgle as the woman stood atop them. With wild eyes, she screamed, "Get your faulty paws away from him!" Chop after brutal chop, she savaged the creature's thick skull.

There was no elegance in those strikes, nor rhyme and reason as she let out her frustration with her brutal swings. "You think you can just waltz in and ruin my fun after ten long years," She screamed as black ichor splattered all over her, the creature beneath her screamed in terror. It was not a fight, but a massacre, or rather a huntsman who was merely feeling a tree.

Finally, after one last strike, the creature let out a rattle before collapsing under those terrible strikes, its head split open. Standing there, he gaped, wondering what he had just seen. What was that thing and how the hell did she kill it? The woman hadn't even broken a sweat as she raised her axe, "Woo!"

Jumping off the creature as it started to fall apart, she said, "What a rush. Nothing quite like killing Grimm in the morning!" As she walked up to him, slinging her axe on her shoulder, the cloud started to part. Light once more shone down revealing the carnage for all to see as well as who stood before her.

Without the haze of the fog to mask her appearance, he saw light passing through her; Her translucent form all but glittering in the sunlight as she stood before him. Tilting her head, before she reached out and felt her cold touch against his skin. "You ok? You look like you saw a ghost," She asked.

"Ahuh…" He nodded, heart stilling as he struggled to process everything he had just seen.

Frowning, the woman narrowed her eyes before she stared at her own translucent hands, "Oh," Flashing them a nervous smile, she winced, "Surprise?" The last thing he knew was her screaming as the ground met his face.

A/N:

Commissioner of the Frog Fic wanted to shake things up with some RWBY Fun. Wanna guess what powers this boy has that gave super mom quite the surprise?