RWBY AU | Shattered Tomorrow

“Legends scatter.”



Trying my hand at my own RWBY AU, in the same vein as Kuma’s Henceforward and Logod’s A View From Below. Not really an actual story, but just a framework to explore and speculate RWBY story, characters and designs. Starting off with Ruby, I did quite a few sketches of her older version, though I admit the final coloured design ended up a bit too similar to the original for my taste, I may have to revisit Ruby later on.

About

The world of Remnant is divided, in the dark and in danger now.

Graduation will have to wait.

As Cinder’s plans come to further fruition, Beacon is no longer safe for its students, and even the once peaceful Kingdoms are no longer a solid refuge. Forced to be constantly on the run as Cinder’s grip tightens on the Kingdoms and soon on Remnant itself, our Huntsmen and Huntresses (in training) are scattered and now have to find a way to find and work with each other and learn in a more… hands-on manner now, outsmarting and slipping under Cinder’s radar as they try to figure out how to defeat her. Like Qrow said, every day out there is worth a week in school…



More story/setting details to come as I draw more of the characters.

Character: Ruby Rose

“The Kingdoms need heroes right now. They need us.”



When chaos was unleashed in Vale, Ruby and her friends managed to temporarily fend off Cinder. But now, it’s only a matter of time before she regains her strength, and no city is hidden from her as even their Scrolls and the CCT network is under her control, making long-distance communication impossible. Knowing she will be unable to maintain contact with her friends, Ruby and her team agree to meet each other at the island of Patch once they’ve found and gathered their allies and built up enough strength to oppose Cinder head-on.

Ruby herself is alone, choosing to stay at Vale where the fire is hottest while her teammates go elsewhere. Working closely with Ozpin, Qrow and the rest of their secret Brotherhood, she becomes a sort of figurehead (or beacon, amirite) to all the young Huntsmen and Huntresses scattered throughout Vale and Remnant, rallying them to stand together.

Design Process

Ideas are still churning, but Ruby will be 17-18, meaning this AU is set when the girls would be in their 3rd or last year at Beacon - if it weren’t for, you know, everything falling apart. Ruby maintains her pure innocence and courage, but after everything’s she’s gone through, she’s definitely wiser and more sensible now, and she’s still learning more by the day. I liked Kuma’s and Logod’s interpretations of her adult version (links above), but I still prefer Ruby’s hair not too long. I think them making her wear a longer skirt definitely sells the idea she’s older, compared to mine where her skirt still looks like the original, so she looks more like she’s in that transition between her younger self and going on to adulthood. Some things have changed, but her overall style hasn’t really altered at all. I guess it’s fitting since she’s not a pro Huntress yet and so is still being moulded into who she really will be.

Also, I may need to redesign Crescent Rose eventually. It kinda comes with the AU territory, otherwise it wouldn’t feel very AU. =p