I do not own RWBY, it's story and its characters, but I definitely enjoy them! :) I wrote this story right before the finale of volume four and then edited it two months later. This is an updated version of the first short story I posted.
She had never really fought Cinder before. At least, the first time didn't really count. Not when she had to watch Pyrrha die before her eyes and her power kind of just happened.
She gasped, it was something between a gulp and panting in pain as she held her bloodstained side. The red, for now, blending in with her cape.
The look of surprise on Cinder's face earlier had been fantastic, but it had not lasted long. The attacks had come nonstop.
Ruby grinned, that was the key.
"Why are you smiling!?" It was as if Cinder was screaming even in the barely audible whisper her former sultry voice had been reduced to.
Ruby looked at her. "Do you believe in destiny?" Ruby watched as a bolt of lightning outlined Cinder's frame. Then it was gone as soon as it had started.
Nora had arrived and Cinder collapsed in a sizzle.
"Ruby!" a shout, was that Jaune? It was too late though. Not even her silver eyes could save her this time.
She felt a familiar warm embrace and an echo inside her mind, "It's alright. I gotcha kiddo." And everything faded away.
"No!" Jaune's scream echoed in his own ears, "She can't be gone! I lost Pyrrha, I'm not losing Ruby too!"
Ren looked at him as Nora bit her lip, silent tears running down her face. Ren moved to Jaune's side and put a hand on his shoulder. "She…" Ren started but trailed off, seeing the anger in Jaune's eyes, there was nothing that could be said.
Jaune brushed the hand off and screamed, kicking the ground in frustration. "I'm never there in time. I'm never good enough to protect my team." Jaune punched the air, and then hugged his sides. "Ozpin was wrong about me. And now they're both gone." He sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
An image of a legendary hunter came up in his mind as he remembered the promise he made to Qrow. Jaune said he would protect Ruby. Another scream. Another sob.
And then something inside Jaune broke. It was as if a piece of glass shattered. As if someone had plunged him into an icy pool of water. The dam had burst and his entire body suddenly filled with the warmth of a strange power he had never accessed. He was interacting with it, bending it to his will.
Even with the fresh smell of blood and burnt hair, he felt an overpowering warm presence, as if someone had just pulled cookies from the oven. He edged closer to it in his will. He knew his body was still on the ground but his true self was chasing that aura, pulling it toward him, willing it to stay.
Both powers began to fade and the voices of Nora and Ren brought him back to the present.
Ruby still lay lifeless, but Cinder was waking up. With silver eyes.
"Jaune? Why does my head hurt so much?"
He wrapped her in a hug, looking directly into Ren and Nora's wide eyes, "Because now you're the fall maiden Ruby."