Chapter 2: Day 1
A/N: Hey ladies and gentlemen of the internet. It's TheNegaAsian back with another chapter of A Tested Trust. I like how people think this story's concept is actually pretty interesting, and I hope you guys like this. Anyways, please enjoy this chapter if you want to. Although, a warning for people who hate gore and stuff, there will be a slightly graphic scene later on in the chapter. And I do NOT own RWBY, though I wished I did or at least helped make it. I also do not own The Hunger Games, since this has similar elements to it.
Ruby's elevator had brought her to a forest. A forest of different seasons, different climates, different inhabitants. She stood on a circular pad surrounded by a glass pane. Around her were her missing friends and classmates; all standing in a glass cylinder just like her. These cylinders were arranged into a half circle, the edge of the forests almost touching each cylinder. Ruby scanned her surroundings, having seen some of Team JNPR, but distance creating a barrier between them. She had also seen many others, such as Team CRDL, until she finally found her sister. Fortunately, she was in the cylinder to her right, very close by.
Ruby went up against the glass and banged her fist against it to attract her sister's attention. Yang looked to her left, her lilac eyes widening at her finding of her younger sister. They both called out each other's name, the glass trapping the sound within.
Then a new voice came out from a speaker on the elevator's ceiling. "Hello students. I am Professor Ozpin, as some of you already know. You have been chosen to take part in a special…experiment I have designed specifically for you chosen 22." He announced through the speakers. "This experiment will conduct how you react and take part in it. In this, you will be forced to kill one another. To the last person standing. And you will not be released until only one of you is left."
Yang's face darkened as she looked at her sister in the capsule beside her. Ruby had placed her hand over her mouth, shock nearly overcoming her. The brawler looked down in despair, talking under her breath, "I will protect Ruby. I don't care what this sick little game of Ozpin's says. I will never hurt her."
As everyone had their different reactions, be it benevolent, sad, or violent, a countdown began within each capsule. As the time ticked down, everyone had gotten in position to battle or evade in the clearing they were placed in. Several packages, at least 22 of them, held supplies, a student's weapon, and or Dust. These were placed across the clearing at random, some near students, some not. Every single student knew what they had to do, even if they didn't want to do it. As the glass slid away when the timer reached 5, several students were prepared to either attack one another or evade the violence. One student was seen running of his plate, but a harpoon was shot from somewhere unknown and killed him on the spot. Others knew now not to follow his example.
Once the timer hit zero, many of the students had run into the clearing. Ruby had to run to Yang, the two already having planned to work with one another. They ran as one into the clearing. As they ran, Sky Lark from Team CRDL had approached them, a knife in hand. He jabbed forward at Yang, who had dodged it and hooked a punch into his face. She grabbed his armed hand with great speed and held it in place as she brought her knee to his crotch, crushing his scrotum. Ruby came in to the encounter and kicked his arm that Yang has been holding, breaking the bone. He screamed in pain and released the weapon in his hand. Before it had even touched a blade of grass, Yang had grabbed the knife and plunged it deep within Sky's chest. Ruby gasped, prepared to yell at Yang, but now was not the time to argue. After Sky had died from the wound, the sisters ran into a part of the forest that resembled the Forever Fall, not before grabbing one package each.
For 2 miles straight, Ruby and Yang had run, never stopping once. Ruby, having her Semblance as Speed, and Yang, who had exceptional lungs from her many fights, had no trouble whatsoever with the run. Once they had stopped, Roby was panting slightly, scowling at Yang. "You know…You didn't have to kill Sky." She told her sister, a small pant in between words.
Yang's face hardened with anger. "Yes I did Ruby. If I didn't, he would have killed us or maybe even someone else, like Weiss or Blake or Jaune. Do you want that?" She questioned, anger reaching her last words.
"No, but we could have knocked him out or something else. We di-" Ruby spoke in a nervous and shy tone.
"Ruby!" Yang interjected, interrupting her younger sister. "We're not Beacon. We can't be thinking that people won't hurt us just because we know them. Whatever sick game Ozpin is playing with us, it turns people against each other. We just need to keep up with it and survive. And that means we need to kill when we need to, no matter who it is! This is what survival is." She stated, staring angrily at Ruby, who was looking down in shame. She shook her head and laid a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I'm sorry Ruby. You just need to understand that we are going to have to do certain things to survive. Let's just look at the supplies and keep moving."
The two sisters sat on a fallen tree nearby. They each opened the white package that they had collected in the clearing. Within Ruby's was Pyrrha's sword/javelin/rife, Miló, and the shield, Akoúo, beneath it. Beside it was an empty water canteen and a few granola bars for rations. Ruby picked up Miló and weighed it in her hands. "I'm going to need to get used to this weight." Ruby reminded herself, changing the weapon into a javelin.
Within Yang's package was Gambol Shroud, Blake's katana/pistol/ribbon scythe. She picked up the weapon and smiled. "At least I know how to use this. All that time watching Blake practice was actually worth something." She remarked, slashing the air. The other objects in the container were the same as Ruby's, although a container of Dust sat in the corner of her package, which meant it wasn't enough to survive.
Ruby tore a part of her trademark cloak, which she didn't like, and tied it to the container. She took the other end and brought it diagonally across the package, tying it like she did before. She stepped back and looked at her makeshift backpack, nodding in approval. She slipped it on and moved around, getting her body used to the weight.
She tore off another strip from her cloak and handed it to Yang. "You should make a bag. It makes everything easier." She informed her older sister. The blonde nodded and follow Ruby's example. They held their weapons in hand and began to talk in a random direction. Ruby looked around and surveyed the area for the first time. The forest they were in was much like the Forever Fall Forest near Beacon. However, the falling leaves were orange instead of red. They continued to walk west, looking to the sun for direction.
After what seemed like hours of walking and silence with little breaks, the two sisters finally rested. Remnant's shattered moon was high in the sky, illuminating the night. Ruby and Yang had built their camp in the forest near a clearing, similar to where Jaune had fought the Ursa. Both of the sisters had collected branches within the forest for a fire.
Ruby returned with an armful of dead sticks while Yang returned with very little. The former looked at her sister confusingly, wondering why she had so little. Yang dropped the sticks and dusted her hands off. "A smaller fire won't track as much attention, Ruby. There is still a hunt going on, Sis."
"Oh." The young girl nodded in agreement and threw her sticks to the side.
The two girls sat around the small fire they made with Yang's Semblance flames, eating very little of their rations. They talked about old memories, trying to forget the day's events. The two were very aware of their surroundings; weapons nearby to be ready at a moment's notice. Ruby yawned cutely, making her sister smile.
She looked at her sister happily and pointed to a spot near the fire. "Get some sleep Ruby. I'll take first watch." Yang told her sister. Ruby nodded as she slowly began to lie down on the forest floor, using her bag as a pillow. Soon, the night was filled with her cute snoring. Yang smiled as she watched over her sister. Her face suddenly darkened as she looked to the future of what may happen in this sick, twisted game. She shook her head. She has to survive this. Even if I die, she must go on without me. No matter what it takes, it's my job to make sure that happens, Yang promised herself, turning her attention to the clearing and the forest beyond it.
Within minutes after, Yang heard a crack of a branch to her right. She picked up Gambol Shroud and put it into ribbon blade form, standing up as soon as her weapon was ready. She quickly scanned her environment for the enemy nearby. Then another branch cracked, much closer and louder than before. Yang quickly pinpointed the sound's location and launched the blade into the darkness.
The quick scream of pain was evident of an attacker to Yang. She smiled and pulled the blade back, hearing flash being torn. Smiling wickedly, she used the weapon's pistol and shot several times at the assailant, who appeared to be running. A tearing of flesh and a cry of pain pleased Yang as one bullet hit her target. She put the weapon into katana form and chased the unknown attacker deeper into the forest. Once she knew she was close enough, she threw the blade into the night. A much louder tear of a person's flesh was heard, followed by a gurgling sound, as if blood was filling their mouth as they screamed. She the silhouette of her target in the dark forest and charged at it. She jumped and raised her leg in a kick, knocking over her opponent and putting the blade less deep as they fell forward. She pulled it out and made the blade go into ribbon form. Yang sat on their back to pin them and held their head up. She placed the edge of the blade against the person's throat. "Big mistake on attacking me, junior." She slid the katana's edge across their throat; the warm blood spilling out as she did.
"Not let's see who you are." She sadistically announced to her dying assailant. She flipped over the body and was filled with great regret, sadness, and anger with herself.
She moved her hand up to her mouth to cover her mouth to stop vomit and a scream both. The person bleeding to death below her was a close friend of her sister, of her in fact. Below her was Jaune Arc. She placed his own hands against his throat to vainly stop the constant bleeding. Tears began to trail down her face as she did her best to keep him from dying. "I'm so sorry Jaune. I didn't mean it. I didn't know who you were. Please. Please forgive me." She cried out with a quivering voice, tears flowing down her face.
With blood still coming out at an alarming rate, Jaune slowly placed his hand on Yang's cheek, who was in fact sobbing now. He spat out as much blood as possible and prepared to speak through ripped vocal cords. "I…I…f-f-forgive y-y-you Yang. It's oka-" Jaune spoke with his dying breath. Yang began to sob harder and closed her eyes that looked beyond the starry night.
She hated herself for this and felt like she couldn't live with herself. Remember Ruby. We must stay for her. She reminded herself and wiped her eyes.
She was about to walk away from Jaune's body when she heard someone call out in the night. "Jaune! Jaune!" Pyrrha called out from somewhere in the forest.
"Jauney! Where are you?!" Nora called out next in her happy voice, still finding happiness in the worst times.
Ren yelled out next. "Arc! Come one man!" His voice was as serious as ever, but worry had crept in.
Yang looked back at Jaune's body and picked it up. Surprisingly, it was pretty heavy, even with his skinny build. She carried it deeper into the Forever Fall-like forest and placed it where no one would find it. She traced her steps back to the camp quietly and quickly, curling up into a ball as soon as she thought she was safe.
She looked at her little sister, who was still unaware of the chaos around her. For Ruby. All to protect her. For Ruby. She thought to herself and stared into the forest's seemingly infinite range, tears slowly rolling down her face. For Ruby.
A/N: How did you guys like this chapter? That part where Jaune died almost made me bawl my eyes out when I wrote it. ANYWAYS, you guys know the drill if you did or did not like it. I gotta go guys, so peace!