The Distant Remnant Mirror (RWBY X LIMBUS COMPANY)

The halls of Beacon Academy were quiet, the kind of silence that only came in the late hours of the night. Most students had already turned in, their dorm rooms dim save for the occasional glow of a reading lamp. Ruby, however, was still awake, hunched over Crescent Rose, carefully inspecting its mechanisms.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Nora barreled into the room, her energy completely unfazed by the hour.

"Ruby!" Nora said, bouncing on her toes.

Ruby nearly dropped her tools. "Nora? What's wrong? It's midnight!"

Nora grinned mischievously, a sparkle in her eyes. "Nothing's wrong! But everything's about to be right. Get up, we're going on an adventure!"

Ruby sighed, already knowing she wouldn't win this argument. "An adventure? Nora, what are you talking about?"

"We're giving Christmast presents to everyone at Beacon!" Nora declared, pulling Ruby to her feet.

Ruby blinked, curiosity overtaking her initial resistance. "Presents? For everyone?"

"Yup! And Dante's coming with us. He just doesn't know it yet!" Nora said, dragging Ruby out the door.

---

They found Dante walking in the hallway, his clock face faintly reflecting the moonlight. Nora marched up to him, her grin never faltering.

"Dante! We need you for an important mission!"

Dante tilted his head slightly, his ticking audible in the quiet corridor.

Nora gestured dramatically. "Presents! We're going to a special factory to get the best gifts for everyone at Beacon. And you're coming with us!"

Dante's ticking grew louder for a moment.

"Through one of the Backdoors," Nora explained cheerfully. "It's totally safe. Trust me!"

Ruby crossed her arms, skeptical. "You keep saying 'safe,' but how do you even know about this factory?"

"I found it while exploring!" Nora said, waving off Ruby's concern. "Now, come on! We're wasting time!"

---

Nora led them to an unassuming door tucked away in one of Beacon's forgotten hallways. A faint, colorful shimmer outlined its edges, hinting at the strange portal it concealed.

"This is it," Nora said proudly.

Ruby hesitated, glancing at Dante. "Are we really doing this?"

Dante said simply, opening the door.

The trio stepped through, finding themselves in a bright, bustling factory filled with conveyor belts carrying neatly wrapped presents. Small, round creatures—Gnomes—bustled about, each one unique in appearance and demeanor.

A particularly cheerful Gnome with a cherry-red cap and a constant giggle approached them first. "Visitors! Visitors come to the gift factory-ome!"

Ruby blinked, staring at the strange creature. "What… what is this place?"

"The best place for gifts-ome!" Cherry Gnome sang, spinning around.

Another Gnome covered in leafy patterns, shuffled forward. "Guests must meet Manager Dodoru-ome".

---

Meeting Dodoru

The trio was led to a large desk where a rotund Gnome with a manager's badge perched on his tiny chest stood, tapping a clipboard.

"Welcome-ome!" Dodoru said, his high-pitched voice surprisingly commanding. "You're here for presents, yes-ome?"

"That's right!" Nora said enthusiastically. "We want to give gifts to everyone back at Beacon!"

Dodoru clapped his tiny hands together. "Wonderful-ome! The factory will provide the finest gifts-ome!"

Ruby frowned, glancing at one of the presents on a conveyor belt. "What's in these gifts?"

Dodoru chuckled nervously. "Ah, only the best materials-ome. Very special-ome!"

Dante's ticking grew louder as he stepped forward.

A loud crash echoed from deeper in the factory. Ruby immediately tensed, Crescent Rose unfolding in her hands.

"What was that?" Ruby demanded.

"Ah-ome, nothing to worry about-ome!" Cherry Gnome said, though his smile faltered.

Leafy Gnome shuffled nervously. "No need to investigate-ome! Everything fine-ome!"

Ruby wasn't convinced. "We're checking it out."

Dodoru's cheerful demeanor cracked. "Stop-ome! You cannot interfere-ome!"

But Ruby, Nora, and Dante were already moving.

---

Deeper in the factory, they found a sleigh loaded with raw materials. Among the piles of strange substances was a bound and unconscious girl, her face pale and her clothes tattered.

Ruby gasped, rushing forward. "She's alive!"

Nora's usual cheer was gone, replaced by a scowl. "What is she doing here?"

Dante knelt by the sleigh, inspecting the contents.

The girl stirred, her voice weak. "Help… please…"

Ruby helped her sit up, her expression firm. "We've got you. What's your name?"

"Crayon," the girl whispered. "They… they took me from my home. Said I'd be part of something beautiful… but it's horrible."

Nora's fists crackled with fury. "Oh, they are so going down."

Dodoru appeared behind them, his usual grin twisted into a sneer. "You shouldn't have seen this-ome. Now you'll be part of the gifts-ome!"

The room filled with Gnomes—Cherry Gnome, Leafy Gnome, and countless others gnomes, armed with sharp tools and sinister grins.

Dante stood, his ticking steady. and insert Ruby and Nora E.G.O card in his pad.

Light enter Ruby and transform becoming a snarling, menacing riding hood with her weapon unfolded, her voice cold. "You're going to pay for this."

Nora grinned fiercely, becoming a Electrified goat and her claws sparking. "Let's wreck their halls!"

The air in the factory crackled with tension as dozens of Gnomes surrounded Ruby, Nora, and Dante. Each Gnome carried crude weapons, their round bodies deceptively agile as they moved to encircle the trio. The cheerful jingles of earlier were gone, replaced by sinister laughter and muttered threats.

"Cherry Gnome will make visitors into shiny gifts-ome!" cackled Cherry Gnome, spinning a spiked mace over his head.

Leafy Gnome let out a low chuckle, his leafy patterns glowing faintly. "No one leaves the factory-ome. You'll be perfect materials-ome!"

Dodoru, standing behind the crowd, clapped his stubby hands together. "Capture them-ome! The production must continue-ome!"

Ruby spun Crimson Scar into an attack position, her yellow eye gleaming under her hood. "This is your last chance—let us go and free the girl!"

The Gnomes only laughed, their high-pitched voices grating.

Dante stepped forward, his clock ticking ominously.

Nora grinned, electricity crackling along her claws and hammer "Oh, I've been waiting for this!"

The Gnomes charged, their crude weapons gleaming in the factory's harsh light. Ruby darted forward, her scythe spinning in a blur as she cut through the first wave of attackers. The sharp clang of metal on metal echoed as Crimson Scar deflected incoming strikes.

"Too slow," Ruby muttered, her movements precise and deadly.

Nora leapt into the air, slamming down into a group of Gnomes with a burst of electricity. Sparks flew as her hammer lashed out, sending several Gnomes paralzyed.

"Time to light up the factory!" she shouted, laughing as another group fell under her attacks.

Dante remained at the rear, observing the battlefield with calm precision.

Dodoru snarled as he saw his forces thinning. "Enough-ome! Dodoru will handle this himself-ome!"

The manager Gnome hefted a massive hammer, its head glowing with a sinister red energy. He charged at Ruby, swinging the hammer in a wide arc.

Ruby ducked under the strike, her scythe flashing as she countered with a slash aimed at Dodoru's legs. The Gnome leapt back surprisingly quickly, his stubby legs propelling him out of range.

"You'll regret this-ome!" Dodoru shouted, raising his hammer. A whirl his weapon to Ruby, forcing Ruby to retreat.

Nora rushed to Ruby's side, her claws sparking. "Let's take him down together!"

The two charged Dodoru in unison, their attacks synchronized. Ruby's scythe clashed with Dodoru's hammer, while Nora's claws raked across his side, leaving deep gouges in his round body.

Dodoru stumbled back, his high-pitched voice turning frantic. "No, no, no-ome! This isn't how it's supposed to go-ome!"

Ruby raised Crescent Rose, her voice cold. "You're done, Dodoru."

With a final strike, Dodoru fell, his hammer clattering to the ground.

As Dodoru's body disappeared into the shadows, a deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the factory. The remaining Gnomes froze, their sinister grins replaced by looks of fear.

"Santa-ta…" Leafy Gnome whispered, trembling.

Cherry Gnome dropped his weapon, his voice quaking. "The boss is here-ome!"

From the shadows at the far end of the factory, a massive figure emerged. Santata was a towering, red-skinned giant with a wild white beard and glowing eyes. His hulking frame was covered in tattered red robes, and he carried a massive sack slung over one shoulder.

"So, you've come to disrupt my factory," Santata rumbled, his voice deep and resonant. "You've made it this far, but you won't leave alive."

Santata let out a booming laugh, swinging his massive sack down onto the floor with a deafening crash. "Face me, interlopers! Let's see if you're worthy of becoming materials for my toys !"

Ruby, Nora, and Dante readied themselves as Santata charged, his massive form shaking the factory with every step. The true battle had just begun.

Santata's laugh echoed through the factory, loud and menacing, as Ruby and Nora struggled to stay on their feet. The hulking red giant's massive sack swung again, slamming into the floor with enough force to shake the ground. Ruby barely managed to leap back, her breath coming in heavy gasps.

"Nora, we need to regroup!" Ruby shouted, Crescent Rose trembling in her hands as she tried to steady herself.

Nora, sparks crackling weakly from her claws, gritted her teeth. "No way I'm backing down from this overgrown lump of coal!"

Santata chuckled, his glowing eyes narrowing. With a sudden lunge, Santata's massive hand grabbed Nora mid-charge, lifting her off the ground.

"Hey!" Nora yelled, thrashing as she tried to zap him, but her electricity fizzled out.

"Nora!" Ruby cried, charging forward with a desperate slash of Crescent Rose.

But Santata's sack swung around, the force of it slamming into Ruby and sending her flying into a pile of broken presents.

"Pathetic," Santata rumbled, tossing Nora into a metal sleigh nearby. The sleigh was already rigged with thick bindings, meant to hold its "materials" in place. Santata then loomed over Ruby, picking her up effortlessly and binding her next to Nora.

"You'll make fine additions to my collection," Santata said, his voice dripping with malice.

Ruby struggled weakly against the restraints, her vision blurring. "No… not like this… Dante… help…"

Dante, standing in the shadows, remained calm despite the dire situation. His clock face ticked steadily as he observed Santata carefully.

"Run," Ruby managed to whisper.

Santata turned his glowing eyes toward the shadows. "You, clock-man. Are you going to run like a coward, or will you join them?"

Dante's ticking quickened slightly before he turned and disappeared into the darkness, his voice low.

---

Dante moved swiftly through the corridors of the factory, his mechanical mind racing. Before long, he heard familiar voices coming from one of the factory's access tunnels.

"Ren, are you sure Nora's here?" Jaune's voice called out, concern evident in his tone.

Ren's calm reply. "I'm sure that Nora is in trouble, I can feel it."

Weiss groaned, her voice sharp. "Of course, she's in trouble. Why are we not surprised ?"

Yang growled, her eyes already flickering red with anger. "If Ruby's with her, they'd better be okay. If anyone hurt Ruby…"

Blake's voice was steady, though tense. "We'll find them. Let's just keep moving."

Pyrrha's quiet determination cut through the noise. "If they're in danger, we can't waste any more time."

Dante emerged from the shadows, causing the group to halt.

Yang's eyes flared completely red as she clenched her fists. "Where are they?"

Dante gestured toward the main assembly hall.

The team followed Dante without hesitation, the tension in the air growing thicker with every step.

---

The group burst into the assembly hall to find Ruby and Nora bound in the sleigh, struggling against the thick restraints. Around them, an army of Gnomes stood ready, their crude weapons raised. At the center, Santata loomed like a mountain, his glowing eyes narrowing as the group entered.

"Ah, more intruders," Santata said, his deep voice rumbling through the room. "You'll all make wonderful gifts."

Yang stormed forward, her gauntlets sparking violently. "Let them go, now!"

Santata chuckled darkly. "Or what? You'll break my toys?"

The Gnomes charged first, their high-pitched voices shouting in unison.

"Intruders must be gifts-ome!"

"Capture them-ome!"

Yang roared, her fury driving her forward as she slammed her fists into the first wave of Gnomes, sending them flying. "Get out of my way!"

Blake moved with precision, her harpoon cutting through the chaos as she worked her way toward the sleigh. "I'll free them. Cover me!"

Weiss's rapier flashed as she dispatched a group of Gnomes with practiced ease. "Don't get overwhelmed. Keep pushing forward!"

Jaune raised his shield, blocking a barrage of attacks before countering with a powerful swing of his sword. "We're not leaving without them!"

Ren and Pyrrha fought back-to-back, their movements perfectly synchronized. Ren's blade cut down the Gnomes with quiet efficiency, while Pyrrha's golden spear cleaved through their ranks with precision.

Nora, still bound in the sleigh, grinned weakly. "Took you guys long enough!"

Ruby, her head hanging low, managed a faint smile. "We knew… you'd come."

Blake reached the sleigh, cutting through the restraints with a single sweep of her harpoon. "You're safe now. Stay back while we handle this."

Ruby shook her head weakly, her voice determined despite her exhaustion. "He's too strong… Santata… you need to work together."

Santata laughed, his massive form stepping forward. "Your little rescue party won't save you. The factory is mine, and you will all become my gifts!"

The factory rumbled as Santata stood tall, his massive frame casting an oppressive shadow over the group. His deep, guttural laugh echoed through the hall as he raised his massive sack, preparing for another devastating swing.

Ruby, leaning heavily on Crimson Scar, shouted from where Blake helped steady her. "Everyone, don't hold back! Use everything you've got! He's too strong otherwise!"

Yang's gauntlets roared with flame as she stepped forward, her eyes flickering red. "Oh, don't worry. He's going down. Let's show him what we're made of!"

Santata charged first, swinging his massive sack with terrifying force. Jaune stepped up, raising his sword just in time to block the blow. The impact sent him skidding back, but he held firm.

"I've got his attention!" Jaune shouted, his voice steady despite the strain. "Hit him now!"

Blake moved swiftly to the side, her harpoon spinning in her hands as she struck at Santata's leg. The flame at the tip roared to life, burning through his thick robes and forcing him to stumble.

"Focus on precision!" Blake commanded. "Every strike counts!"

Yang took the opportunity to leap into the fray, her fists blazing as she delivered a powerful uppercut to Santata's side. "You messed with the wrong family!"

Weiss, clad in her Cinq uniform, moved with blinding speed, her rapier flashing as she struck at Santata's exposed arm. Her strikes left deep gouges, her voice calm yet sharp. "Stay focused! We can't afford any mistakes!"

Pyrrha stepped forward, her Judgement Bird E.G.O glowing brightly as her spear radiated golden energy. Her movements were deliberate, her voice calm.

"The scales demand justice," she murmured, thrusting her spear toward Santata's chest. Golden chains erupted from the tip, wrapping around the giant and slowing his movements.

Ren moved in tandem with her, his blade slashing at Santata's arms and legs with surgical precision.

"Pyrrha, keep him restrained!" Ren called. "I'll cover your openings!"

Pyrrha nodded, her bandaged eyes focused on Santata. "Balance must be restored."

Nora, now back in the fight, unleashed a flurry of electrified strikes with her claws. Sparks flew as she leapt onto Santata's back, her laughter cutting through the chaos.

"Time to turn up the voltage!" Nora yelled, sending a burst of electricity coursing through the giant.

Ruby, still recovering, joined her. Crimson scar glinted in the light as Ruby shoot Santata body,staggering him and spun her scythe in a deadly arc, aiming for Santata's arms.

"Let's take him down together!" Ruby shouted.

Santata roared, his glowing eyes flaring brighter as he shook off the electricity. "You insignificant humans ! You will not defeat me!"

Jaune, still holding the line, saw an opening. "Everyone, focus your attacks on his chest !"

Yang and Blake moved first, their combined strikes forcing Santata further off balance. Pyrrha's golden chains tightened, holding him in place.

Weiss followed Jaune's call, her rapier stabbing precisely at the weakened area. Her voice carried a note of triumph. "This is the end for you!"

As Santata staggered, Ruby leapt high into the air, Crimson Scar spinning above her like a deadly whirlwind. "This is for everyone you've hurt you damn wolf !" she yelled, bringing her scythe down in a devastating slash.

Santata stumbled, his massive form swaying as he let out a final, earth-shaking roar. "No… I will not fall… to you!"

Pyrrha stepped forward, her spear glowing brilliantly. With a calm yet resolute voice, she said, "Your judgment is sealed."

With a final thrust, Pyrrha drove her spear into Santata's chest, the golden energy exploding outward and enveloping the giant.

Santata let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground, his glowing eyes dimming as his massive frame disintegrated into ash.

The factory fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the group as they gathered together. The destruction caused by the fight began to spread, the factory's machinery groaning as it began to collapse.

Ruby leaned against her weapon, her voice weak but triumphant. "We… we did it."

Yang helped her sister to her feet, her voice softer now. "Yeah, we did. But you scared the hell out of me, Rubes."

Blake surveyed the crumbling factory, her voice steady. "We need to leave. This place won't hold much longer."

Weiss adjusted her hat, her usual haughty tone returning. "That brute wasn't as challenging as I expected, but we should go before this place takes us down with it."

Nora grinned, though she was clearly exhausted. "Totally worth it. That guy was the worst."

Ren placed a hand on her shoulder, his calm voice grounding her. "Nora, next time please don't go to suspicious backdoor again"

Nora hearing this stuck her tongue out " Tee-Hee, sorry Renny"

Dante's ticking grew louder as he gestured toward the exit.

The team exited with the kidnapped children from the factory as the sound of collapsing machinery and crumbling walls filled the air. The nightmare of the gift factory was over.

----

A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAST!!!!!!! Hello everyone I'm giving you an omake chapter as my present to you. Sorry if the ending is a bit rush but I hope it up to expectation. After this I'm taking a break and will continue writing in january.

MERRY CHRISTMAST EVERYONE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY

P.S: sorry if there's any typo, I'm currently writing in my phone