"A Tale Involving a Tree" is the ninth episode of Volume 9 and the 115th episode of RWBY. It premiered on Crunchyroll on April 15th, 2023.
Summary[]
The scene opens up with a door opening up. The Great Tree is shown in the Jungle Acre. The tree transforms into a book, and eventually an unknown person is shown and heard reading a book. A younger version of Yang and Ruby are shown; showing that this is Summer Rose, when she was alive. A wooden statue of Ruby is then randomly shown after this.
Juniper bursts out of the Abandoned Acre, with the group riding on top of it. Jaune is questioning the rules of the Ever After, and why all of his friends have been taken by the tree. He arrives back at the Paper Pleasers' village. A new diamond-based Afteran approaches Jaune; asking how it is able to help him. He asks them what they are, and they call themselves the "Genial Gems". The group connects the dots, and realizes that this these are the Paper Pleasers after they ascended. Jaune figures out his failings, and accepts them after the others comfort him. This acceptance causes the Tree to transport them to it.
They think the Curious Cat was correct in how to get to the tree, and with that, they arrive at the tree. The look around until Yang finds a wooden statue of the Herbalist and the previously mentioned statue of Ruby. Yang tries to get her out, but fails. Jaune interrupts Yang; explaining that what allowed them to get to the tree was 'acceptance' (for them their failings). Yang is reluctant, but the others convince her to leave the statue alone and allow Ruby the right to change if she wants. The wooden statue of "Herb" opens to reveal that he now has wings and legs. He flies away into the sky; presumably to return to the Garden's Acre.
Ruby is shown inside a void. She wanders around, and eventually encounters the Blacksmith yet again. The Blacksmith is suprised to see Ruby, and claims that she didn't expect her so soon. Ruby is curious if the Blacksmith is the tree itself. She explains that technically; She is the tree, but it is in simpler terms. Ruby also asks what will happen to her once she ascends.
A sound startles the group on the tree; causing them to check it out. They find the door back to Remnant, and also find the Curious Cat (still possessing Neo) repeatedly failing to escape the Ever After. The Curious Cat realizes that the group made it, and explains why Neo can't escape the world. The Curious Cat explains how Neo doesn't have anything left in Remnant due to her broken emotional state after getting revenge, and explains how she failed them the same way Alyx did.
The Curious Cat reveals they were promised an escaped from the world, but Alyx had lied. They also explain how Alyx changed after talking to the "Tree"; causing her to fix all of the damage done in the Ever After. The Curious Cat explains how only Lewis made it out; Alyx was murdered by them. Blake asks what the Curious Cat did to Alyx; only getting the explanation: "What anyone would do with a broken, useless thing", which indicates the Curious Cat is responsible for her death. They then began to attack the group, but pauses as they realize that Ruby hasn’t finished Ascension, and that they could still switch into her body if they can get her out of her cocoon. The cat decides to continue the fight; with the new goal of reaching Ruby and making her their vessel.
Ruby is walking with the Blacksmith. She asks what the greenish-blue lights are around her. The Blacksmith explains that they are souls, which are currently ascending. Ruby asks if they choose what they want to be. The Blacksmith asks Ruby if it this question is for them or for herself.
The fight between the group and the Curious Cat continues. Using Neo's abilities, they taunt that Ruby might come out as herself, or something more monstrous, this angers Yang into destroy the clones. At the same time, Ruby explaining why she wanted to be a huntress. She also explains how she has the lost the difference between right and wrong, and is confused about her role. The Blacksmith offers Ruby, the opportunity to become something else by taking on one of the many weapons she magically summon before her.
Jaune talks with NeoCat; explaining how he was betrayed and lied to by Alyx/the cat. They duel until the cat is knocked to the ground. They use Neo's semblence to transform into Penny which left him open to a clone of Pyrrha that strikes him. The cat knocks Jaune back. Weiss aims a fireball at the cat, but it uses Neo's semblence to break; causing it to hit Jaune instead. He falls off the tree.
Ruby struggles to choose which person she wants to be. She is curious about who the weapons belonged to, but is told that she should focus on who it could belong to. The Blacksmith is curious if she could "feel the woman who could hold it", and explains how that could be Ruby. Ruby approaches a weapon, and claims that she feels like she isn't enough. The Blacksmith asks how Ruby can tell; she walks up to a weapon. This weapon has the voice heard from the beginning of the episode. Realizing it's her mother's weapon, Ruby decides to reach it.
Transcript[]
The sound of a page turning is heard.
Narrator: A door opened for Alyx at the Tree.
The door automatically opens. The Great Tree of the Ever After is shown, towering over the Jungle Acre.
Narrator: Before she goes back home, the girl had a great many questions to ponder.
Then the Tree is later shown in a sketch from the storybook.
Narrator: After all the lessons she learned, and the friends she'd made (the page turns) and lost.
Summer Rose is sitting on her chair, telling the story of “The Girl Who Fell Through the World” to a young Yang Xiao Long and Ruby Rose, who are fast asleep.
Summer: (narrating) Who had she become? Would she still be the same Alyx when she went back home? The leaves of the tree rustled, and on the wind, Alyx heard one more question…
Elsewhere in the Ever After, Ruby is seen, now petrified in wood.
Summer: (narrating) What… are you?
Jaune, Weiss, Blake and Yang ride on Juniper from the Abandoned Acre to the forests of Origami Acre.
Jaune: I don’t understand! Alyx, the Pleasers, now Ruby! What does this place want?
They arrive at a certain place. They dismount Juniper, looking at the waters of the destroyed village of the Paper Pleasers. Jaune stares at the Tree.
Jaune: I don’t understand… What did I do wrong?
Weiss: We can figure this out. There’s got to be a way to get to the Tree.
???: Hello there.
Jaune and Weiss turn to see a red star-shaped crystal Afteran carrying a basket of berries.
Red Genial Gem: You appear upset. Would you be so kind as to tell me how I can help? Perhaps you are hungry?
Jaune: (confused) Huh? (shaking his head) No, that's okay.
Red Genial Gem: If I can get you anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask! That’s what I’m here for!
Jaune: What? What are you?
The Yellow Genial Gem places their foot into the water.
Red Genial Gem: We are the Genial Gems, and we’ve arrived here to clean up this beautiful land and create something wonderful and pleasing.
Jaune watches the Genial Gems remove the parts of the former village of the Paper Pleasers. Then the Genial Gems wade through the waters and place their hands on it, a glowing light appears. The stream flutters in the air and transforms into a crystal structure.
Blake: This is them, isn’t it? They’re back.
Weiss: It’s just like they said. They came back from the Tree, better.
Yang: No flood or fire will ever hurt them again.
Jaune: I’m trying so hard to save them... I stopped them from becoming what they needed to be. I was being selfish because I… I wanted the rush of rescuing someone and I got that here.
Weiss: I think you’re asking too much of yourself. We’ve been telling ourselves that failing means we’re no good. But I can guarantee even the best Huntsmen in history… they’ve all lost. But they were still incredibly brave… (smiles) and good.
Jaune begins to tear up.
Jaune: Weiss…
Weiss hugs Jaune, with Blake and Yang doing the same.
Jaune: Maybe that Cat was right... Maybe I just needed to accept it. It’s not a place you go.
The myriad of the multi-colored leaves from the Great Tree engulf Weiss, Blake, Yang, Jaune and Juniper. They find themselves transported inside the Tree.
Blake: (looks around) What?
Weiss: It’s a place you know.
They walk, passing the branches. Weiss pulls one branch off another and becomes shocked to see the Herbalist, now encased in wood. Yang walks forward between them, looking in both directions before noticing something.
Yang: R-Ruby?!
Yang runs in that direction and stops, standing in front of Ruby’s wooden form. She steps forward and places both of her hands on the shoulders of her sister then resting her head on Ruby's. Yang's eyes open as she feels something and immediately begins breaking the branches around Ruby. Jaune and Weiss stare at her as Blake is the last to show up. Jaune notices what Yang is doing and walks towards her, about to place his hand on her shoulder.
Yang: (frantic) We have to get her out!!
Jaune: I think I get it. This is how we got here, or… why the Tree brought us here. (turns to Juniper) Acceptance.
Weiss: We've done everything we can. Now it's up to Ruby. Whatever happens next... we have to welcome that.
Yang: But what if she isn't Ruby anymore when she comes back out?
A sound breaks the tension as the group looks in its direction. The sound continues as the Herbalist's sculpture breaks, revealing blue butterfly wings. The Herbalist stretches, cracks his knuckles, looks around, then begins to fly towards the sky.
Blake: Maybe… that's not for us to decide.
Blake comforts Yang as she tears up. The wood-petrified Ruby continues to stand solemnly still.
Ruby opens her eyes and finds herself in a green night-like spiritual plane with glowing green orbs. As she walks endlessly, she hears the sound of the hammer and sees the Blacksmith forging a mask that resembles a mammal.
Blacksmith: I didn’t expect you’re here just yet.
Ruby: I wasn’t expecting to be here. Are you the Tree?
The Blacksmith puts down the heated mask, the hammer and pliers on the anvil.
Blacksmith: (chuckles) You could say that. But that is a simplistic understanding of the Tree, and what it does.
Ruby: What’s going to happen to me? Am I gonna die?
Blacksmith: The only thing that could happen to you here is what you want to happen. The choices of what you become and where you end up is yours to make.
Ruby looks at the Blacksmith and looks down before glancing up at the Blacksmith again.
Blacksmith: You don’t know what you want, do you?
Ruby looks down and slowly shakes her head, dispirited.
Back in the Tree, a banging sound is heard.
Jaune: What’s that?
The sound gets louder, Jaune moving two branches out of his way as he sees a giant, glowing door, wide open. Weiss's eyes widen as Blake steps forward.
Blake: Is that...?
Jaune: Our way home!
At the doorway, the Curious Cat possessing Neo’s body is pushed back. They desperately try to get through again, but to no avail. They then notice Team RWBY and Jaune.
NeoCat: (sarcastically) Oh, good! You made it…
Weiss: I guess your little plan to get out of here isn’t working?
NeoCat: (standing up) You’ve always been the worst of the bunch.
Jaune: So Neo can’t go through the door…
NeoCat: (growls) No. She has no attachments to your world. Nothing to return to. She has failed me… just like Alyx did.
Blake: Like… Alyx?
NeoCat: (hisses again) That cowardly, wretched girl whose story you’ve been foolishly following all along. The same girl that I followed too…
A flashback shows the Cat traveling with Alyx, Lewis, and Jaune as the Rusted Knight. The group is then shown sitting around a campfire, before showing just Alyx and Lewis with the Cat traveling down a path in the Origami Acre.
NeoCat: …Because she promised me she would bring me back to Remnant with her. But in truth, she had no intention of taking me!
The three are shown before the doorway at the top of the Tree.
NeoCat: No, after talking to the Tree, she had a sudden crisis of conscience!
Alyx is shown closing her eyes in remorse, thinking back to when she poisoned Jaune.
NeoCat: Decided she wanted to fix everything that she had broken in the Ever After! Including poor Jaune! So Lewis went, and in the very last moment… Alyx didn’t…
Lewis is shown going through the door, and at the base of the steps, the Cat suddenly lunges towards Alyx, her dagger shown being dropped. The flashback ends.
Blake: (angry) What did you do to her?
NeoCat laughs maniacally, and then uses Neo’s body to leap and slam the ground in front of the group. They pick up a piece of wood.
NeoCat: What anyone would do with a broken, useless thing. (breaks the wood)
Team RWBY and Jaune ready their weapons.
Jaune: No, you… you didn’t… YOU MONSTER!
The Cat’s claws then appear on Neo’s arms. They prepare to rush forward, but then gasp as they notice something. NeoCat sees Ruby’s petrified form still encased in wood.
NeoCat: She’s still here… Yes! All my work… it’s not lost! Deep down, she wants nothing more than to return to Remnant and play hero. I just need to cut her out, and she will take me there!
Yang: No, whatever happens to Ruby is up to her, not you or anyone else.
The four Huntsmen group together to defend Ruby from NeoCat.
NeoCat: Then I’ll put you in the ground!
Ruby and the Blacksmith walk through the plane. Ruby stares at the green orbs.
Ruby: What are these lights?
Blacksmith: The souls that are moving on to… whatever they become next.
Ruby: Do they choose…? What their next life will be like?
Blacksmith: Such concern for souls you don’t know or… (turns to Ruby) is it for yourself?
Back at the tree, Yang, Weiss, Blake, and Jaune duel the Cat.
Yang: There’s no way we’re letting you get to Ruby!
NeoCat: (chuckles) But don’t you see? What comes out of that Tree might not even be your sister any longer!
The Cat uses Neo’s Semblance to make zombified clones of Ruby, further angering Yang. She punches the clones with no hesitation. The Cat bares their claws.
Back in the plane…
Ruby: I wanted to be the hero, like the stories that my mom read to me. I just wanted to do the right thing, but every step of the way, it’s like… it’s like there is no right thing! I tried so… hard. And I… (tears drip from her eyes) I may have just done more harm than good. I don’t understand… who I need to be... because who I am right now… she’s not cutting it.
Blacksmith: What if you could be… anyone?
The multi-colored leaves fly past the Blacksmith and Ruby. Multiple cases containing many weapons appear surrounding Ruby and the Blacksmith. Ruby then walks towards one of them.
Back in the Tree, Jaune blocks the Cat with his shield.
Jaune: This whole time… I thought Alyx made it back home and lied about everything that happened here! But you were the one that killed…! Who lied!
NeoCat: You were never the brave knight either! Just more fairytale nonsense!
Jaune manages to knock the Cat back, but as he prepares to finish them off, the Cat uses Neo’s Semblance to transform into Penny. Jaune hesitates, and is caught off guard by a Neo clone of Pyrrha striking him from behind. The Cat kicks Jaune near the edge of the Tree platform. Weiss notices and activates a fire Glyph to launch a fireball at the Cat, but they use Neo’s Semblance to break into glass shards, and the fireball heads towards Jaune. Jaune blocks it with his shield, but the impact knocks him over the edge.
Weiss: (shocked) No!
As Jaune falls off the tree trunk-like platform, a multi-colored smoke appear.
Ruby is shown walking along the different weapon cases, before stopping at one with a hammer encased inside it.
Ruby: Who did this belong to?
The Blacksmith appears with a glow green light with multi-colored leaves besides Ruby.
Blacksmith: It’s not about who did, but who could. Can you feel the woman who might hold it? The weight of who she is. She could be you. You could put any one of them on, and leave Ruby Rose behind.
More of the leaves blow by Ruby, and she is suddenly shown on the other side of the diameter of weapons.
Ruby: It's all... so... heavy… It's the only thing I can feel anymore... and it never, ever goes away. The feeling of not being… enough.
Blacksmith: And how would you measure “enough”?
Ruby approaches a familiar axe-like hybrid weapon with a trigger function inside the glass case.
Summer: (voice) Before she goes back home…
Ruby: Mom?
Summer: (voice) The girl had a great many questions to ponder. What…
Ruby reaches her hand towards the weapon belonging to Summer. Everything goes white.
Summer: (voice) Are you?
Characters[]
- Summer Rose
- Ruby Rose
- Yang Xiao Long
- Weiss Schnee
- Blake Belladonna
- Jaune Arc
- Juniper
- Genial Gems (First Appearance)
- Herbalist
- NeoCat
- Blacksmith
- Alyx (Flashback)
- Lewis (Flashback)
- Penny Polendina (Clone)
- Pyrrha Nikos (Clone)
Trivia[]
- This episode is considered the first part of a two episode-long finale of Volume 9. It is meant to be the shorter half of the finale, with the second episode being over twenty minutes long.[1]
- This episode's title refers to the Great Tree of the Ever After.
- The opening scene of the episode with the Genial Gems originally took place midway through the episode, with Neo's possession taking place near the beginning.[2]
- There was a cut exchange between the Curious Cat and the group that would have clarified Ruby's fate after drinking the tea.[3]
- The Blacksmith was made to talk almost like a therapist would, not giving Ruby the answers she needs, but gently guiding her to them.[2]
- The original episode 9 of Volume 9 would have ended with NeoCat's line before they start the fight.[2]
- The weapons offered to Ruby were used because of their connection with how Ruby was introduced and her core identity.[2]
See Also[]
Image Gallery[]
- Main article: A Tale Involving a Tree/Image Gallery
References[]
| RWBY | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|