The Volume 9 Bonus Ending Animatic is an epilogue episode for RWBY Volume 9.
A 6 minute excerpt from the epilogue premiered at RTX Austin on July 7th, 2023, before the full 15 minute version with an introduction by Kerry Shawcross and Eddy Rivas was released on Rooster Teeth for free on March 30th, 2024.[1][2]
Summary[]
Transcript[]
Nora: (narrating) We buried our friends today.
A crowd stands on a large sand dune in Vacuo.
Nora: I mean, you can't really bury someone that isn't there. (voice breaking) But we needed to do something.
Refugees from Atlas stand in front of a large gravestone that reads "In Honor" in the sand.
Nora: We needed to move on.
Nora falls to the ground, sobbing.
Nora: Putting the memorial at the gate site was Ren's idea. I think everyone lost something that day.
Back in the sandstorm after arriving in Vacuo, a Ravager abducts an Atlesian evacuee. Winter screams and attacks the Grimm with ice shards and a large whirlwind. As more Grimm approach, Coco Adel shoots them down with Gianduja as the rest of Team CFVY, Sun Wukong, and Neptune Vasilias arrive to help.
Nora: When the sandstorm cleared, we saw Ambrosius had kept his word. We were just outside the city.
The sandstorm clears to show Vacuo in the distance.
Nora: It was a relief for us, but for the Vacuans...
Sun: Run, this way, come on! Hurry, to the city!
The ground rumbles as the evacuees run away screaming. A Blind Worm emerges from the ground as the flashback ends.
Nora: Grimm attacked the city for days. Things have calmed down since then, but there's still something worrying me.
Nora walks through a crowd of Vacuans and Atlesians in the current time.
Vacuan: The last thing we need is a kingdom of orphans!
The angry Vacuan throws an empty can at the young boy, while Neon Katt knocks it away.
Neon: (grunts) It's not our fault we're here! No one came to help us when we needed it!
Vacuan: We've had our own problems. (throws another can that is deflected) The world doesn't revolve around Atlas!
Nora: (somberly) What's wrong with orphans?
Nora walks up to the two Vacuans and looks back and forth at them. The men huff and walk away. The boy starts to cry.
Nora: Hey, everything's gonna be okay.
Boy: I wanna go home! (runs away)
Nora: (narrating) What if we can't move on?
The camera zooms in to Nora's scars on her neck. Neon, looking at the scars, gasps and looks away when she sees Nora looking back at her.
Nora: What if we're all just too... scarred?
Oscar: (narrating) If there was anything I wish I could borrow from you, Ruby, it would be your certainty.
Oscar stands in front of the memorial, with Vacuo visible in the distance. Oscar looks over to see the sun setting on the horizon.
Oscar: You always believed things would work out... all the way up until the moment they didn't.
Inside of Shade Academy, a dark room is lit up by a lamp clicking on, showing Oscar reading at a desk in Shade's library.
Oscar: Ozpin has no explanation of what might have happened to you, your team, Jaune. I thought maybe I could search for an answer. (book slams shut) But given Vacuo's history of colonization, its records of antiquity are even worse than most places in Remnant.
Oscar gets up from the desk and walks to the exit of the room, which is closed off by a Hard-Light Dust barrier. Oscar turns off the barrier and walks to the railing at the edge of Shade. He gasps as his eyes turn green and he grabs onto the railing.
Oscar: Oz is fighting our merger just as hard as I am.
Oscar grabs onto his head, grunting, as an explosion sounds out in the distance. Screaming can be heard as Ravagers fly in the distance above a fire in the city. Winter Schnee flies out of Shade towards the Grimm attack.
Oscar: I- We are in unforeseen territory now.
Oscar arrives at the scene of the fight, as briefs shots of the Huntsmen fighting off the Sulfur Fish and Ravagers are shown in camera flashes.
Oscar: Everyone worries the next Grimm assault will be the last. Too many people to take care of, too many emotions, and dwindling time.
The wind howls back at the memorial site.
Oscar: You always believed in the best, saw people for who they really were. Some of us don't know anymore.
Oscar walks away from the memorial, the sun still setting in the distance. He grunts as he falls over, his eyes glowing green again, as the sun sets.
Ren: (narrating) How did you do it, Jaune?
Ren sits in front of the memorial at nighttime, holding his dagger in his hands.
Ren: How did you go from the boy at Beacon to the leader at Atlas... when you lost so much in between?
Back at Shade Academy, Ren sits under a tree while Nora and Velvet Scarlatina walk by. When he looks over and sees them, he smiles and gets up to walk towards them.
Ren: (waving) Hey, I was going to try and cook some dinner for the gang, i-if you wanna stick around.
Nora: Oh, that's really sweet. But I told Velvet I'd help her get more supplies out to the edge settlements. Would feel bad eating before those guys. You know.
Ren: Don't even worry about it. You just keep up the great work. Let me know if I can help.
Nora: You got it.
Nora walks away. Velvet smiles and waves to Ren before following Nora. Ren drops his smile as he looks back towards Nora, using his Semblance to see her emotions.
Ren: (narrating) Nora, she's putting the world on her shoulders, and Oscar... just isn't himself.
Ren gets a notification on his Scroll, seeing that Oscar replied to his message.
Ren (Text): Plans tonight? 🍜
Oscar (Text): Busy.
Oscar (Text): Sorry
Ren (Text): That's ok. Hope you two are well. 🙂
Ren: (narrating) I never realized how much you did to hold us together.
Ren puts his Scroll away before starting to walk into Shade, before his Scroll starts ringing.
Yatsuhashi: (on the phone) Ren?
Ren: Yatsu. Hey, I was just about to-
Yatsuhashi: Where are you right now?
Ren begins to look worried, and runs off. A screen shows Tyrian Callows and Mercury Black inside of a prison, while a woman in a prison jumpsuit trails behind the two. Mercury kicks down a door, as a man in a jumpsuit walks out.
Ren: Who... are they?
Yatsuhashi: Gillian and Jax Asturias. The Crown. We have to assume Salem has them now.
The camera screen shows Jax and Gillian smiling at each other. Mercury looks worriedly at Tyrian, who is laughing at the camera. Yatsuhashi closes the Scroll, as him and Ren look at the wall of the prison cell, where "NO PLACE FOR ROYALTY" is written on the wall. The scene cuts back to Ren at the monument.
Ren: (narrating) For a while I've tried telling myself that even though we lost a lot in Atlas, Salem's forces were damaged too.
Ren stands up and puts his dagger back in its scabbard.
Ren: But she's able to recover by preying on those filled with fear and anger... while we have to overcome them.
Ren looks back towards the city of Vacuo, as he looks at the petals circling around the city representing the emotions of all the citizens and refugees.
Winter: (narrating) I've finally accepted you aren't coming back.
Winter stands in front of the monument, with Willow Schnee, Whitley Schnee, Team EONR, Team SSSN, Team CFVY, Team QRFJM, and Team MEH standing behind her.
Winter: It should have been me, not you, not Penny, me. I was the one who stayed at Ironwood's side for far, far too long.
Ren, Nora, Emerald, Oscar, Qrow Branwen, the Happy Huntresses, and Ace Operatives all solemnly stand behind Winter.
Winter: I was the one who let the Staff fall into Salem's hands. Because of me, Penny is gone, forever.
Winter and Marrow Amin look at graffiti on a wall, stating "ATLAS GET OUT" and "LONG LIVE THE CROWN". Winter hears an airship in the distance, and flies off to investigate. As she lands, she is greeted by Peter Port, who takes a step back.
Port: (chuckles) The Winter Maiden, Miss Schnee. (takes a step forward and bows)
Winter: What's happened?
Port: (sighs) When Salem left Atlas, she came for Vale, and now there's nothing left.
Port looks behind him to Bartholomew Oobleck, who is looking down.
Winter: Where's Glynda?
Port: Gone. Trying to find help. We led the civilian retreat, brought as many people with us as we could, and uh, this, this is the only place we could think to go.
A roar is heard as three Blind Worms emerge in the distance. Winter flies off towards the Grimm.
Winter: (narrating) You are the one who believed in people.
Later, Winter walks along Qrow and Willow, who are handing out food to the refugees.
Refugee 1: You stole it! Give it back!
Refugee 2: I didn't steal anything!
Winter: You had faith they could be good.
Willow takes a loaf of bread out of the cart and brings it to two refugees.
Winter: Whitley, mother, they've worked hard to make amends, to fit in...
One of the refugees takes out a flask and drinks from it, as Willow's voice shakes.
Qrow: One step at a time.
Winter: But no amount of determination or hard work will change where we find ourselves now.
Willow offers another loaf of bread to two children.
Woman: Filthy Schnees! Not so high and mighty now, are you? What's it like, living at our level?
Willow: I'm, I'm sorry.
Qrow: (holds Willow's shoulder) We're leaving, okay?
The civilians look pleadingly over at Winter and back up away from her. Winter carries forward.
Refugees: How long are we supposed to live like this? Let's just leave!
Winter looks over to see a group of three refugees complaining to Marrow and Fiona's uncle.
Winter: (narrating) What do you do when there's no hope left?
The refugees walk away, leaving the city. Fiona's uncle gives up and walks back inside the city.
Winter: You would know what to do, sister.
Back at the monument, as the rest of the civilians leave apart from Whitley and Willow, Winter continues to narrate.
Winter: You were the true heir to the Schnee name. You and your friends, you did everything you could to save the world. (reaches to touch the monument) You would be so disappointed in us.
Willow: Whitley, you really should cover up.
Whitley: No, I won't hide forever.
As Winter uses her Magic on the monument, a Manta can be heard descending down near them.
Whitley: Klein!
Whitley runs towards the Manta, as Klein waves to him from inside and chuckles. Willow looks back towards Winter, who has now applied the words "Don't come back" onto the grave.
Winter: Maybe it's for the best that you didn't have to see this, Weiss.
As it turns to sunset, Qrow wipes dust off the names on the memorial.
Qrow: (narrating) Call me crazy, but I'm actually feeling a little optimistic about things. Go figure. Don't get me wrong, it's bad. In fact, it's probably never been worse.
Qrow walks through a refugee camp, looking around at all the people.
Qrow: And yet, you can still see the good in small things: acts of kindness, people trying to atone for past wrongs, like an oasis in the desert.
Qrow passes by Klein feeding an Atlesian child and Willow helping a mother sit down. As he walks past a person, the person trips, and Qrow grabs his hand, helps him up, and pats him on the shoulder.
Qrow: It's all a matter of perspective. I guess an old friend taught me that.
Qrow looks down at Clover's pin, which he now has on his coat. Still walking, Qrow finds the Happy Huntresses playing with children. Joanna Greenleaf twirls two children on her arms and Fiona Thyme summons a ball and tosses it in the air.
Fiona: Ready, catch!
Qrow moves out of the way as the ball hits Joanna's back. The children, Happy Huntresses, and Qrow laugh as Joanna turns around, confused. Qrow walks up to Robyn Hill.
Qrow: What was so important that I needed to come all the way down here?
Robyn: You can't spend all your time taking meetings in Shade. Come on.
Robyn starts walking away and Qrow follows beside her.
Qrow: Is this one of those... just wait, it's a surprise things? I'm not really a-
Robyn: Just, shut up a second. Here.
Robyn gestures to the wall, where there is a mural of Ruby, with the words "Remember Her Message" written around her.
Qrow: (narrating) Things might be bad, but my biggest regret is that none of you are here to see the good that you started...
Qrow stares up at the mural for a few seconds before covering his mouth and tearing up. Robyn puts her hand on his shoulder. The two look up as an airship flies above.
Qrow: ...because you did start something.
Qrow, now leaning on the railings at Shade Academy, starts to walk inside the academy. Before he can, a red portal opens up behind him, and Raven Branwen walks out. Behind her, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, and Jaune all walk out of the portal together. Raven smiles at Qrow, who smiles back as the five walk past her. The group look up, past all the different airships, to Amity Colosseum floating above them.
Ruby: But... how?
Qrow: You sent a message...
The five look back to see Qrow smiling at them.
Qrow: ...and the world answered.
Oscar, Nora, Ren, and Emerald walk out of Shade.
Nora: Hey Qrow, are you coming to the meeting, or-? (gasps)
They see the five standing there, all smiling.
Ruby: Hey, everyone.
Characters[]
- Nora Valkyrie
- Willow Schnee
- Whitley Schnee
- Emerald Sustrai
- Fiona Thyme
- Joanna Greenleaf
- May Marigold
- Winter Schnee
- Lie Ren
- Oscar Pine
- Klein Sieben
- Coco Adel
- Fox Alistair
- Velvet Scarlatina
- Yatsuhashi Daichi
- Sun Wukong
- Neptune Vasilias
- Neon Katt
- Tyrian Callows
- Mercury Black
- Gillian Asturias
- Jax Asturias
- Qrow Branwen
- Robyn Hill
- Marrow Amin
- Harriet Bree
- Elm Ederne
- Scarlet David
- Sage Ayana
- Peter Port
- Bartholomew Oobleck
- Raven Branwen
- Ruby Rose
- Weiss Schnee
- Blake Belladonna
- Yang Xiao Long
- Jaune Arc
Minor Characters[]
Trivia[]
- The contents of the epilogue are originally from a scrapped 12th episode of Volume 9 and are intended to eventually be adjusted and included in Volume 10.[3]
- The RTX version of the epilogue uses the music "The Mighty Rio Grande" by This Will Destroy You, which was also used in Rooster Teeth's Tribute to Monty Oum.
- The extended version reuses music from other parts of Volume 9, primarily "Of Solitude and Self".
- Early in the episode, a character can be seen talking to the Happy Huntresses whose appearance closely resembles the description of Theodore.
- A few days after the release of the epilogue, the episode was updated to include subtitles where Yatsuhashi would have spoken.[4]
- This is the first time Anthony Sardinha voices Port in the main series.
- This is the last episode made by Rooster Teeth Productions before it's company shut down.
Image Gallery[]
- Main article: Volume 9 Bonus Ending Animatic/Image Gallery
References[]
- ↑ Eddy Rivas on Twitter
- ↑ Kerry Shawcross on Twitter
- ↑ RTX Austin 2023 RWBY Panel
- ↑ Eddy Rivas on Twitter
| RWBY | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|