Heeey everyone. So... I'm about to screw with your heart again. I know that I promised that my next story would be about the romances we fans support as told in my last story, which you should go read right now if you haven't before you do anything else (WARNING: YOU WILL CRY WHEN YOU READ IT. NOT FOR WEAK OF HEART. BUT READ ANYWAYS.), but this came up beforehand.
This is going to be relatively short I believe but I think it'll be enjoyed anyways. In any case, you should be fine for the first few chapters but soon enough you will see murderous fight scenes that will tug at your heart strings. The next chapter will be out either tomorrow or the day after. No chapter on Christmas but I might make a separate Christmas special.
I hope you enjoy this but many of you will likely be pissed off at me and I completely understand. Twice now I have tugged on your heartstrings by doing something to Ruby and the second time around I think it's going to be worse. Also, I will likely be rewriting some of these chapters just to improve the quality. Just so you know I do have the time because I started my two week Christmas break this week. Whoot whoot!
But without further adieu, I present to you, chapter one of The Rose Who's Petals Turned Black (like you don't already know that you'll hate me for what's going to happen to Ruby).
Ruby
I bounce up and down on Weiss's bed uncontrollably feeling like I'm going to burst any moment. "Seriously, Ruby. Calm down," the white haired heiress says from right next to me.
I jump up and turn to face her. "I can't calm down though! We get to go on a mission today! As actual Huntresses! I mean, we won't just be shadowing a Huntsmen, we get to accompany a Huntsmen!"
Weiss looks up at me from her spot on the bed and smiles. Instantly I get a jittery feeling in the pit of my stomach. "True, though we're technically still in training. We just get a taste of what it's like to be certified," Blake says from her perch on her bed above Weiss's.
"That doesn't mean it won't be any less fun," Yang says from Blake's lap. Last year my sister and the faunus had started dating. "Besides, we get to be real Huntresses after this last year at Beacon."
"Only if we pass our third year examination," Weiss interjects. "If we fail, we repeat this year."
Yang leans over her bed and looks at Weiss, shoving her butt into Blake's face at the same time. "Oh don't be such a downer. We passed the end of year exam last year and the year before. We're sure to pass it again this year."
"But don't forget that this is supposed to be the hardest exam. Even Team CFVY didn't pass it," Weiss argues. Yang just reaches out a hand and flicks her forehead.
"I told you to quit being such a- eep!" Yang squeals and tips forwards off of Blake's bed, slamming onto the ground next to me. I quickly look up at Blake who's wearing devilish grin.
Yang leaps to her feet and glares at Blake. "Hey!" The brawler jumps back up onto the bed tackling Blake. The two wrestle for a brief moment before Yang pins Blake to the bed, forcing her arms on either side of her head.
They stay like that for a moment until Yang breaks the silence. "Ruby, Weiss. Would you two mind leaving the room for a little bit? Blake and I will meet you at the amphitheatre."
Weiss starts to get up, asking, "What? Why do we need to leave the room?" She turns and sees Yang on top of Blake. "Oh."
I roll my eyes and grab Weiss's hand. "Come on. We should leave the two of them alone for a little bit." Their relationship has been, passionate, to say the least. Weiss happily follows me out of the room, not wanting to be there when they get started.
Moments after we shut the door moans float out into the hallway. "We should give them some space," Weiss says. I agree and the two of us walk down the hallway together.
Halfway down the hall I realize I'm still holding the heiress' hand. Quickly I let go feeling the blood rush to my face. I stare down at my boots feeling almost as my face is steaming in embarrassment.
"Ruby? Are you listening to me?" My head snaps up and I look at Weiss.
"What? Yes, I was listening. The weather is very nice today!" I give a nervous laugh trying to play it off. My laughter dies down and there's an awkward silence hanging in the air between the two of us.
Weiss places a hand on her hip and stares at me. "You're such a dolt you know that? I asked what you want to do, we probably have a half hour before they decide to call us down."
"Oh uhhh, I'm not sure. There's not a whole lot to do really… Ooh! I know! We could go spar for a little bit. I mean if Yang and Blake are getting some exercise we should too and the locker room has a shower."
Weiss goes red and stiffens up and I realize the double meaning of what I just said. "Wait, I didn't mean that we, uh. I just meant that we have a sparring match and that there are showers so we can shower and not be all sweaty."
"No no, I know what you meant," Weiss says. "But yeah, sure. Let's go." Weiss and I walk through the school hallways in awkward silence. My right side prickles with Weiss next to me and I barely keep from throwing up.
Not the bad sort of throwing up but throwing up in excitement. Weiss and I hardly ever get any alone time and I relish every second of it. Once we reach the locker rooms, Weiss and I rush to our lockers.
I strip down out of my school uniform, acutely aware of Weiss undressing right next to me. I quickly open my locker and dress into my battle clothes. I also grab my new cloak and pull it over my head.
I grab Crescent Rose and clip it to my back. I also pick up my new weapon: Moonlit Rose. A cross with a blade designed to extending from the bottom of the cross back two feet behind my elbow set on one arm of the cross.
The bottom length of the cross serves as a gun barrel. I pick it up by the other arm of the cross, resting my pinky on the trigger. I marvel at it still unable to believe how light I was able to make it.
I pull my hood up and turn to Weiss who's dressed and has Myrtenaster sheathed to her hip. I grin, my hood shadowing my face for a creepy effect. "Ready?" I ask.
Weiss nods and we walk out of the locker room heading for the arena. We take up positions on either side. Weiss unsheaths Myrtenaster and takes her stance. "And… Go!"
Weiss leaps forward and stabs at me. I sidestep easily dodging. She spins around and speeds to a stop right in front of me. She lashes out multiple times and I easily dodge each stab. I jump into the air and flip around to hang in the air behind Weiss.
I level Moonlit Rose at her back and pull the trigger. The white haired fighter disappears and a crater takes her place. Moonlit Rose's gun has the force a shotgun plus a sniper rifle.
Sensing Weiss behind me I spin on my heel and raise my arm to block a slash. A series of clicks sounds and I quickly move backwards just in time to escape burst of fire. I reach and unhook the blade of Moonlit Rose.
It falls to hang in the air, connected to the cross by a chain. I lash out but Weiss blocks the strike. However the blade wraps around Myrtenaster trapping it. I yank on it and pull Weiss off balance.
I drop Moonlit Rose and grab Crescent Rose. I extend it into scythe mode and leap forward. I slash downwards, purposefully overswinging so that I hit Weiss with the shaft.
Even so it pounds her to the ground. I revert Crescent Rose back to sniper form and hook it to my back again. I extend a hand to Weiss and she takes it. I pull her up saying, "Good fight."
"It's so annoying how I can't beat you still. That new chain scythe of yours is so hard to fight back against. You block it and you get disarmed. Dodge and you just change the trajectory."
I grin. "Why I like it so much. Plus the gun is more powerful than Crescent Rose's sniper rifle." I nod to the crater in the ground a few feet away.
Weiss looks over at that and snorts. "Lucky that was dust and not a real bullet, it would have killed me." Instantly I pale and clench my hand. The thought of killing Weiss…
She seems to notice my unease and quickly says, "But it was dust so the most it would have done is give me a bad bruise. Especially with my aura blocking most of the damage."
I nod meekly and turn away from her. "We should go shower. The third years are going to be called down soon." I sprint out of the arena trailing rose petals, strip, and jump into the shower before Weiss even enters the locker room.
I sink to my knees in the shower and silently let tears slip out of my eyes. I never meant to try and kill Weiss, I just was reacting during the fight and didn't think about how badly I could have hurt her…
I almost throw up but I swallow back the bile. "Ruby? Are you okay? You've been in there a long time," Weiss yells. I rise to my feet, not having realized how long I was sitting under the hot stream of water.
I turn it off and call back, "Yeah I'm fine, I just really love hot showers."
"Okay," Weiss yells uncertainly. "Well hurry up, we're going to be called to the amphitheatre soon. I'll be waiting for you outside."
I step out of the shower stall and grab a towel to dry myself off with. I quickly rub myself down and then run through the locker room to get dressed.
I throw my dirty clothes back into the locker promising myself to wash them later. I dress myself back in my school uniform, put away Crescent and Moonlit Rose, and then skip out to find Weiss leaning against a wall. "Ready," I say, my usual happy demeanor back in place.
Weiss smiles at me and nods. She pushes herself off the wall and together we start trekking across the school towards the amphitheatre. We walk in silence again but this time it's more peaceful than awkward.
The intercom clicks on and Glynda's voice floats through the air. "Will all third year students please report to the amphitheatre for mission assignments." There's a click and then the intercom shuts off.
I squeal, "Weiss! We're going to be late! Come on!" I start running leaving the heiress to chase after me.
"Ruby! Wait! Slow down a little bit!" Weiss cries out.
I spin on my heel and run backwards to gleefully smile at her. "How about you speed up Weissy?"
She frowns at my nickname for her and says, "Don't be such a pest and quit showing off." I just smile even wider. Weiss gets a sly grin and a white glyph appears beneath her feet.
Suddenly she's gone and nice breeze touches my cheek. I spin back around to find Weiss turning a corner. "Ohh so that's how it's going to be then huh?" I pour on the speed and reach the corner in a moment.
I easily make the turn and I laugh. Just a year ago I had so little control over my semblance still that I would have planted myself into the wall just then. I see Weiss ahead of me and force myself to try and catch up to her.
I manage to catch up to her and from behind say, "Cheater! You never said we would race!" I scare Weiss enough to make her stumble though she manages to stay on her feet.
"You dolt! Do you know the burns I would have had if I tripped right there!" Weiss demands, looking at me over her shoulder. I laugh and just pour on even more speed easily passing Weiss.
The two of us sprint across the school, Weiss using her glyphs and me using my speed. I laugh as we run able to feel the adrenaline pouring through my veins.
The two of us reach the amphitheatre in no time and I skid to a stop, Weiss two steps behind me. "I win!" I shout, throwing my arms into the air. Other third years who had already arrived give the two of us looks. "Ack!"
My head snaps forward with the force of Weiss's smack. "Didn't I tell you to quit showing off you dolt?"
I turn to Weiss. Despite her words and harsh tone, a pleasant smile lingers on her lips. I grin and say, "You're just a sore loser."
Weiss looks away and says, "Maybe." I see her look at me out of the corner of her eyes and smile. She turns back to me and stares into my silver eyes with her pale blue ones. We stand there for a few brief moments before Weiss hesitantly opens her mouth to say something.
"Ruby!" a voice calls from behind me. I look over my shoulder to find Blake and Yang walking through the sparse crowd towards us. My sister waves at me and I spin to wave back.
The brawler and the faunus stop in front of us, both seeming to glow. "You two seem particularly happy," Weiss comments.
"Well yeah, sex tends to have that effect on people. You two should try it sometime," Yang teases. The blood rushes to my head and I bury my face in my hands, shaking furiously.
"What!?" Weiss exclaims. "Never! I would never try such a vulgar thing. How dare you even suggest it!"
"Oh just ignore her," Blake interrupts. "She's only kidding. You two are so innocent. Though she's not entirely wrong." I squeak and can almost feel my face steaming for the second time today.
Luckily Ozpin's voice sounds throughout the large amphitheatre ending the conversation. "Students." Everyone in the room instantly stops talking and turns to the stage. "All of you here are third year Huntsman and Huntresses in training."
"At the end of the year, as you all know, all students are required to take a test that determines if they are ready for more advance training. Everyone here has completed that test, twice. That speaks volumes of your abilities."
"It proves that each and every one of you are extremely skilled fighters. Not only that but the reason you all have, while different for each individual, was determined to be worthy of a true Huntsman or Huntress."
"We all signed up to fight monsters and to protect the people. But that is what we do, not why we do it. We all have reason for why and that reason is what drives us in our lives."
A feeling of pride swells within my chest and I stand up straight. "You are the best of the best. Today, we expect you to show that. This is the final, assigned mission of this year."
"However, this is not just any mission. On the mission you choose today, you will be accompanying a Huntsmen as equals. You will be receiving a taste of what it's like to be a true Huntsmen or Huntress."
"Once you come back, you will all be able to finish your final year at Beacon and prepare for your examination. If you succeed, this taste will become a reality. That will be all. You may now go choose your mission."
Ozpin nods and takes a step back from the microphone, moving to stand next to Glynda. The entire amphitheatre erupts in applause and hoots and hollars. "Come on," I say, grabbing Yang, Blake, and Weiss by the collar.
I start dragging them over to the mission boards, pushing my way through the sparse crowd of other third years. "We need to hurry up and get in line! Otherwise all the good missions will be picked clean!"
The three of them struggle but I keep an iron grip on their collars until we're standing in front of the white screens. I let them go and they all stumble away, coughing and rubbing their neck.
I scan the board looking for a good mission while my three teammates recover. "You don't have to be so rough you know," Yang says.
I keep my eyes on the board and reply, "I don't have to but it's more fun when I am." Down towards the bottom of the board I see Quadrant Eight: Investigate White Fang Rumors. "How about this one?" I ask, pointing at the mission.
The White Fang had gone from bad to worse, becoming a terrorist group and attacking not only dust shops and trains but public locations as well.
Yang, Blake, and Weiss all take a look at the board and one by one they turn to me and nod. Smiling back at them I reach down and touch the screen. A series of beeps sound and then the mission is replaced with Please report to airstrip tomorrow morning at 8:30 and a green checkmark.
I look back up to the rest of my team grinning. I look at Weiss and she meets my gaze with a soft one of her own. "You two are so in love," Blake says.
Both Weiss and I turn tomato red and I quickly try and deny the fact. Weiss stares down at the boots keeping her hands clasped tightly together. Blake raises an eyebrow and Yang just laughs.
