A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Or whatever you celebrate) I am back from the dead people! Having finally been finished with some major school projects, I got the chance to write sections of this chapter bit by bit until it was done. This one won't be as long as the last two, but it will be somewhat long, and hopefully you enjoy. I must warn you, though, this one will contain feels. Another thing is that in the last chapter I put 7 instead of 8 for the prophecy (Shout out to The Night Hunter for catching that)
The freaking feels, man.
Anyways, REVIEW TIME! I got some reviews from some new people, so that's good.
The Night Hunter: Game of Thrones? Huh, I actually don't watch that so I wouldn't know what it's like. But, I do know it's popular, so thanks for the review!
TigerRaiken: Yes! Almost 20,000 words (I actually tried to put Part 3 into another Part 4, but decided against it seeing as I needed the Invincible Thief Arc to end so I could get on with the actual story :P) and thanks for the compliment. And thanks for considering being my beta reader (Still trying to find one whose actual beta reading profile doesn't contain countless grammar and sentence structure mistakes) BTW, I really like Clothes, Please? It's probably my favorite Lie Ren fanfic.
Skye Air: Thank you. I'm glad to have blown your mind.
Wildstraydog: Thank you so much for the review! Glad to see some new readers on my fanfiction!
OKAY! With that done, I present Chapter 9: The Gates of Hell (Uplifting title, I know)
Chapter 9: The Gates of Hell
And on that day, I made a vow; whispered and true. No matter what, no matter how, I made this promise to you. I will cling, I will clutch, I'll hold onto you, I won't turn away, I won't leave, I won't go, I will stay with you all our days.
Somewhere Unknown
Witching Hour. The darkest, blackest part of the night where spirits and other mythical beings were said to appear and haunt the living. Where ghouls and ghosts would rise up from the grave and spill human blood. The time where great evil was said to roam and feast on those unfortunate enough to wander the earth.
"Goddamn it. I can't see crap!" A voice said in a loud whisper. The trees of the Haven forests swayed back and forth as three imbeciles trekked through the place like a herd of elephants.
However, these legends were, after all, legends.
"I can see just fine," The second one said, and swished his demon tail back and forth.
"Of course you can bloody see" The other one replied, "You're a goddamn Cambion. You guys have night-vision for Remnant's sake!"
"Sage does have a point, Sun" The third one said.
"Shut up, Scarlet," The one named Sun said, and pushed a branch out of his way before it smacked into the dark skinned one behind him.
"OW!" Sage cried, and fell to the ground, "Really!?"
"Sorry," Sun shrugged, and continued to walk. He looked up, hoping that the broken moon of the world was out, but there was only darkness.
"I swear if you were wrong about this guy then I'm going to kill you," Sage muttered while rubbing his now stinging cheek.
"Relax," Sun turned around and barely held in a laugh as he studied the appearance of his both human friends. Being a Cambion sure did help when nights like that were happening. Both of his friends looked like they had been trampled by muds of dirt, twigs, and pond scum. Sun swung his scaly tail, a hint of amusement on his face, and he continued talking, "I know this guy was him. Black hair, wearing rags, and he definitely didn't look like a resident of Haven."
"I still don't understand why we had to march through this stupid forest though," Sage scowled.
"Because, unlike you guys, I actually know this forest leads to the main road a lot faster than the old dirt path back there."
"Yeah but 'back there' is a lot safer."
"Will you just trust me, please? I know where we're going and I can assure you that we're almost there." Sage and Scarlet sighed, but nodded and the latter grabbed onto Sun's tail.
"We're ready," They both said, and Sun began to walk again. The three traveled in silence, with only the distant hoot of an owl filling the cool night air.
"You…you really think that this guy was him?" Scarlet said, his tone slightly hopeful.
"Definitely," Sun said in a confident manner.
"But why would he be here, now, without anyone with him?" Sage asked.
"Things happen, Sage," Sun said, "But, it doesn't matter now, anyways. What matters is getting him away from Taijitu's soldiers so that we can reclaim Haven."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Sage grumbled, "Oof!" His body collided with Scarlet's as the latter abruptly came to a halt, "What the-"
"SHH!" Sun whispered, and bent down in the thick bushes, "We've almost reached the edge of the forest."
"Spectacular," Sage mumbled, but suddenly froze as he could make out the distant flicker of a raised torch coming down the street, "Ah, crap."
"No one talk," Sun instructed, and the three grew silent as the light grew closer and the neighing of horses was heard. The tailed Cambion peered over the wall of plants, and could make out a few of King Taijitu's guards throw something on the ground.
No…someone. The soldiers surrounding the mysterious figure, each one pointing a lance at the boy, but Sun could make out the faint traits of raven colored hair and pale skin from cracks in the man-made wall.
I can't believe it, Sun thought, It's actually-
"I'll you this again, Miss," The lead guard said curtly, "Where is the Haven Rebels' base?"
Miss? Sun felt his heart drop as a soldier moved to the left, revealing none other than a girl. An amber eyed, black haired gal with several bloody red cuts and injuries on her arms and chest. Sun felt Sage come next to him and study the scene with interest.
"It's…it's not him," Sun said, his eyes glued onto the strange figure. She had a look of determination on her face, but also pain, and scowled at the soldiers.
"It's not?" Scarlet said, and poked up from behind the shrubs, "Er…that actually seems like a good thing." Sun winced as his friend pointed at the rough state the girl was in.
"I. Told. You," The girl said through grit teeth, "I don't have a clue what you're talking about and I don't give a damn about where the Rebels base is. All I want is to pass through Haven safely," She pushed herself up, "Just let me go and you won't hear from me ever again." Sun gasped as he noticed the two scaled horns poking out of her ebony hair.
"She's a Cambion," Sun said excitedly.
"Oh no," Sage said, "No way in hell are we-"
"We have to help her!" Sun exclaimed, then quickly quieted down as to not get caught. The girl immediately widened her eyes, and her gaze flicked over to the area where Sun and his friends were hiding. Amber eyes met blue and she swiftly turned back to the soldiers so that her new spectators wouldn't be revealed.
"Crap, she knows we're here," Sage said, "Okay, that's it, we're leaving right now."
"W-what?" Sun said, "We can't just leave her."
"What do you want then?" Sage mumbled, "We can't just full-out attack these guys. It would a massacre."
"Oh, really?" Sun said, his tone bitter, "But if it were him then we would try, wouldn't we?" Sage's expression remained hardened and he turned around to head back into the trees.
"Scarlet, come on," Sun pleaded to his red-haired friend.
"Sun, we can't risk it. What would happen if we get captured, or worse? One girl isn't going to change everything. We have to think of the big picture here," And with those words Scarlet followed Sage into the forest, leaving a despaired Cambion in the dust.
"We don't like liars, Miss Belladonna," Sun heard a soldier say coldly, "So I ask for you to answer this one simple question."
"That I have nothing to do with," Belladonna seethed, "I do not know where these rebels are, and I hardly care, really," Her eyes flicked over to Sun, "So I ask, from you, to let me go."
Sun had to admire the girl's bravery in the face of death. He grabbed his staff from his waist belt and prepared to run out and help.
"Sun, no!" A hushed whisper cried, and Sun turned around to see a scared Sage and Scarlet holding out their hands. Sage bit his lip and continued, "Just please, think for one second about what you are doing."
"And why should we believe you?" Taijitu's soldier continued, "You're a Cambion for Remnant's sake-"
Sun flinched and backed away from his two friends.
"-a liar, a thief, and a spawn of the devil."
"Oh? So if I was a human then you would have let me go by now?" Belladonna scowled, "It's people like you that let their own ignorance and hate blind morals. It's people like you that will be the end of humanity!"
"Sun, please!" Scarlet said, his face full of terror as he realized that Sun was serious about aiding the girl, "Listen to Sage!"
"Guys, I've got this-"
CRACK! Sun felt his blood turn to ice as his foot smashed onto a twig. A feeling of dread encased his body and the painful noise echoed through his ears and into the ears of everyone else.
Dammnit.
"The Haven Rebels!" The lead soldier cried, and Sun barely had time to duck before an arrow came whizzing over his skull. Breathing heavily, he jumped up and dashed towards Sage and Scarlet.
"RUN!" He yelled, and, without thinking, grabbed onto his friends' hands and pulled them into the inky black forest. More arrows flew by and lodged themselves into the trunks of trees.
"Shit, they're still behind us!" Sage bellowed.
"Then stop talking!" Sun cried, and pushed the two forwards before holding up his staff and breaking apart a few incoming arrows, "Get to safety now and make sure you're now being followed!" Using his Cambion sight, he could make out the vague image of the girl crawling away. The loud sound of someone yelling, "Kill her!"
And the haunting image of a spear entering her chest, spraying crimson blood all over the cobblestone street.
Vacuo
Early Afternoon
"Okay, it's your turn, Rubes."
"Hmm. Alright then. I spyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy-"
"Ruby, just answer, please."
"Something green!"
"That tree?"
"Nope."
"That bush?"
"Nope."
"That flower?"
"Nope."
"That piece of vegetable in Weiss's teeth?"
"Yep!"
"What?!" Weiss instantly put her hand to her mouth and glared at the two laughing sisters, "Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
"Hah! Sorry about that, Ice Princess," Yang chuckled, and watched as Weiss desperately tried to pry the leafy green out of her gums. Letting out a deep breath, Yang let herself relax a bit. Ever since reluctantly leaving Signal, the trio of girls had been traveling fairly well, minus a minor emergency when Weiss's feet became a bi inflamed because of an injury she would only describe as involving "glass". They had managed to also avoid Roman's army, which was another plus, and were keeping to the smaller roads and paths in hopes of staying out of trouble.
"Okay," Ruby brought out a slightly torn map that she had bought in a village before. Spreading it out in the open air she pointed to a tan area, "We're here, right now, and Qrow said Everus was in the Eastern part of Vacuo somewhere." Weiss walked over and studied the piece of paper.
"This map is very small compared to the whole country of Vacuo," Weiss informed, "So, technically, Everus isn't even located on this paper."
"Oh, well..." Ruby's face turned a bright red.
"It's okay, Rubes," Yang put a comforting arm around her younger sister, not wanting her to feel stupid, "You didn't know."
"Well, what does this map show, then?" Ruby asked Weiss.
"It only shows this particular region," Weiss explained, "See these dots and their titles?" She put her finger on one in particular, "These show the local towns that we'll most likely come across on our trip. Not the huge cities located in this country."
"How do you know so much?" Ruby inquired.
"Lots and lots of geography lessons," Weiss grimaced, "But, that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that we're about to reach a town called...Redo."
Suddenly, Ruby's stomach grumbled, "D'you think they'll have cake there?"
"Ruby, I don't think we'll be able to have cake, even if they do have it," Yang said, "It might cost too much."
"Hmph," Ruby put away her map and crossed her arms.
"Besides," Weiss chimed, "Peasants don't have cake anyways."
"Well...maybe this town will be different," Ruby said indignantly.
Weiss stared up into the sky and sighed, "It's about noon, I'm guessing, and by the looks of it getting to this town may benefit us quite well. I suggest we make haste and get there as soon as possible."
"Fine by me," Yang shrugged, secretly glad that Weiss was leading the group. Being a leader, someone that everyone was dependent on, was not her specialty, but it seemed to be the ice princess's forte. She watched as Ruby put away the map and slung it over her shoulder, but not before taking out the strange diary Qrow gave them.
"Since we haven't had time to really study this thing," Ruby flipped through the pages carefully, "I was thinking we could now before reaching Redo."
"It just seems like gibberish to me," Yang said, her mind growing dizzy from just glancing at the lines of squiggles and jagged curves.
"Well, he did say it was an almost forgotten language," Ruby reminded, "But, I still don't understand how something like this could survive for so long."
"As long as there are people willing to hold on to the past," Weiss chimed, "Artifacts like those will always live." A flash of pain went across her features, but she immediately shook her head and went back to normal.
"You okay, Weiss?" Ruby asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Yes, I'm perfectly okay," Weiss said, but Yang could tell the princess was lying.
"Are you sure?" Yang said, "'Cause you seem...not okay."
"I'm just...reminiscing about something," She answered, "But...that was in the past, so it doesn't matter now."
"You act like it matters," Yang said bluntly, causing Weiss to scowl and turn away.
"Weiss, we're just a bit worried," Ruby said in a kind tone, and put her hand on the heiress's shoulder. The latter let out a long sigh, but opened up.
"Fine...if you must know. I'm anxious because I have no idea what's going on back in Vale and Atlas."
"What's going on over there?" Yang asked, unaware of the happenings in the other countries.
"Before Weiss ended up in Signal, she was in Vale attending a ball or something," Ruby filled her sister in, "But, the White Serfs attacked and she ended up escaping before getting captured by General Roman."
"Oh..." Yang played with her fingers.
"Your book reminded me of my..." Weiss searched for the correct word, "Friend's sword. It was passed down in his family for generations."
"What's his name?" Yang asked, only to instantly regret the question as Weiss pursed her lips in anger.
"I'm pretty sure it's now 'was' his name," She said darkly, "Jaune. Jaune Arc."
"Wait...he's the prince...so he was your fiancé," Ruby determined after a while, "...oh." She shut up.
"I just want some sort of sign," Weiss said, "Some sort of comfort that will show me everything is alright over there."
"Maybe we'll find it in Everus," Ruby said optimistically, "Maybe this General Ironwood will have the answers you want."
"Maybe..." Weiss said sadly, ending the conversation on a low note.
Vacuo
Dusk
"Weiss?" Yang said, "I hate to be a downer here. But it's nearing night and we haven't reached this village yet." All around her the open desert buzzed with the sounds of nocturnal animals coming out and the humid Vacuo air breezing by.
"It should be around here somewhere," Weiss replied, her usually calm hair now frizzy and sticking up in air thanks to the thick humidity Vacuo had to offer, "I'm sure of it."
Yang glanced at Ruby, and felt a twinge of guilt at seeing her sister barely awake and walking. Her shoulders were hunched down and her eyelids fluttering open every once in a while.
"Here, Rubes," Yang picked up the redhead and fastened Ruby onto her in a piggyback fashion.
"You don't have to, Yang," Ruby protested, her words slightly slurred from pure exhaustion, "I'm too heavy..."
"Damn right you are," Yang chuckled softly, making sure that her sister didn't hear the curse, "It's okay. I can handle a little extra weight." The blonde's eyes trailed over to Weiss, who had a faint smile on her face, "Aw...she's melting."
"S-shut up you fiend," Weiss sputtered, and went back to studying the map.
"When are we gonna get there?" Ruby yawned.
"In near time," Came the short reply, "I would like to make rest and camp here, but, ever since exiting that forest. it's been flat desert for miles. We would be exposed and most likely hunted by either highway men or venomous snakes."
"Charming," Yang muttered sarcastically, and sweat poured down her cheeks as she climbed up a sandy hill. Her gaze high, she admired the blending colors of dusk and how they all combined together to make an explosive painting in the sky. The soft hue of sunset orange balancing out the somewhat burning color of a fiery red. All then finished off with a vivid pink that sent streaks flying across the world.
Yes, it was a sky like that one that actually made Yang feel at peace sometimes.
"Are you seeing this?" Ruby whispered from behind her sister's head.
Yang nodded.
"Mom and dad loved when this happened in Signal," Ruby said, "...I wish they were still here."
I wish they were still here. The sentences echoed in Yang's mind, sending a punch to her gut as her mind flashed with memories of sickening cries and never ending screams of death and fire.
Stay calm, Yang, she mentally scolded herself, Stay bloody calm so Ruby doesn't notice-
"Yang, are you okay?" Weiss asked, snapping the blonde out of her thoughts, "You seem a bit...unnerved."
Yang gave a nervous laugh, "Me? Unnerved? You must be hallucinating, ice princess." Weiss frowned, but let the subject drop.
Note to self: Insult Weiss when questioned.
"Hey, Yang?" Ruby said, "Why do you think the sky turns all these different colors?" She extended her arms as if trying to run her fingers through the floating beauty.
"I don't know," Yang said, "I've never really given that a thought." Truth be told, Yang had always wondered about why the sky would change colors during the day and night.
"Y'know what I think?" Ruby laughed a little, "Maybe there's a painter in the sky, and he has this huge set of paintbrushes that he uses. Of course, though, he has to make sure to have a variety of tools. And, when he's in a certain mood, he chooses one of the brushes and dips it in white paint. Then, he smears the brush all across a part of the sky and creates clouds. That's why we have different shaped clouds, you see? But, there's multiple brushes of the same kind in another container that he has. He then uses these brushes to paint the sky when it's night or day. That's why we have both bright and dark colors."
"I thought that was when the sun disappears and the moon comes out," Yang said.
"Yeah, but...if we didn't have the dark colors when the moon comes out, then it would just be like the moon is replacing the sun. Nothing would change," Ruby countered, "And when he paints the sky, Remnant, that must be the life. Being able to create the world of mankind. Being able to look down and see people stare into his work and admire it. Being...being able to just see everything and to give people hope for a new day. Hey, Yang, why do you think the moon is shattered...why do you think there are stars?"
The question caught Yang off guard, and she struggled to come up with an acceptable answer, "I...uh-"
"Easy," Weiss answered, much to everyone's shock, "Stars are the remnants, are the pieces, of dreams that guide each and every one of us. Stars are the things that shine bright in the darkness. They are the light that leads us to victory. Without stars, without the moon, even, there is no light in the bitter darkness that aids us. As for why the moon is shattered? Well, only time will lead us to that answer. But my guess? My guess is that the moon was created that way to show that even the most brilliant of lights will always have imperfections. That even the most vast and beautiful objects will have the most obvious cracks. But, remember that at certain points in the year the moon will face us in a way that the cracks cannot be seen. That, despite its flaws, it will try and show the positive side of life to mankind. That it will try and become something amazing."
Yang and Ruby gaped.
"Yang...pinch me," Ruby mumbled.
Yang merely stared on at the new side of Weiss she thought she would never live to see.
"What?" Weiss said, slightly annoyed, "Did you really think I was a shallow princess who could never talk like that?" She gave a smug smirk, "Well, you have been proven wrong."
"That I have, ice princess," Yang admitted, "Nice words, by the way."
"Where'd you learn to speak like that?" Ruby inquired in awe.
Weiss shrugged, "I've always had a speech tutor back at my castle, but he only helped in talking correctly, not in the words that filled the hollow space. Over time, I've trained myself to hold back my wonders of the world and all in it, but now? Now I can unleash my observations of the universe with no fear of being rebuked."
"I'd like to see that side more often," Ruby said earnestly, causing Weiss to blush and go back to examining the map. Yang glanced back up in hopes of soaking in the rays of color that danced in the sky.
But all she found was smoke.
Wait...smoke?
"Um, guys?" She said, a hint of confusion in her tone, "Why is there smoke in the sky?'
"There's what?" Weiss asked, and gasped as she saw what Yang was talking about.
"Yang..." Ruby said nervously. Her sister didn't reply, only stared at the now ashy soot falling downwards and the sound of screaming now apparent to her ears.
The sound of screaming? Wasting no time, Yang gently dropped Ruby and unhooked her crossbows from her waist belt.
"It's coming from over there!" Weiss informed, taking out her fencing tool and pointing to two high intersecting desert mountains. Behind them, the burning specks of ember in the air floated without a care in the world.
"Why is there smoke?" Ruby asked innocently, but readied her scythe in fear of the worst.
"Um..." Yang had no idea how to answer the girl's question without mentioning 'death.'
"There's no time for chit-chat!" Weiss raced forwards, "We must hurry!" Yang loaded her bow and ran after her white-haired teammate, followed shortly by Ruby herself. Kicking up gallons of sand, the blonde barely managed not to trip over scattered rocks and dead bushes. Soon, a wave of heat blasted in the face, and she nearly let out a plethora of curses as the sight below her unfolded.
On a stone path next to her feet, a dangling and half-burnt sign reading "Welcome to Redo" hung pathetically, sending shivers up her spine despite the fact it was over 100 degrees outside. The village, or, what was left of it, was turning into an inferno, with mile-high flames dancing upwards into the sky, but, strangely enough, there were people running around in a frantic state trying to extinguish the fire that had caught onto their bodies.
It was an all too familiar sight for Yang. The fire. The burning.
Only, there was one major difference.
"What the bloody hell is that!?" The usually composed Weiss exclaimed. Yang gulped, and, between the lines of ash and flame, could make out a long figure slithering through the destruction.
Then, it lunged. Yang didn't even have the chance to scream as a giant creature shot out of the chaos and towards her face. Two gleaming white fangs protruded out from its mouth, and its fire-covered body seemed to move melodically with every turn.
"Yang!" A voice shouted, and suddenly the feeling of flying encased the blonde's mind before she landed face-first into a pile of sand.
What the-
"Are you alright?" The voice asked, and a pair of silver eyes met violet as Ruby lifted her sister up. Shaking the dizziness off, Yang peered around and saw that she was on the other side of the burning town.
"W-where-"
"Guys, we have to get out of here," Another voice interjected, and Weiss came barreling towards them, "Now!"
"W-what happened?"
"You nearly got eaten is what happened," Weiss scowled, "The reason why this place is burning up is because of that huge fire basilisk!"
"What the hell is a basilisk!?" Yang said incredusely.
"It's what you just saw, you dunce!" Weiss shouted.
Oh...giant snake thing.
Fire, why on earth did it have to be FIRE? Couldn't it have been a nice water basilisk or even a life basilisk...
"I used my semblance to speed you away," Ruby said. A loud screeching sound suddenly pierced the air, and Yang covered her ears. Glancing back at the town, she witnessed the serpent let out one more cry of anger before whisking away in the empty desert.
"We have to catch that thing!" Ruby said.
"Uh..." Both Weiss and Yang eyed one another.
"Ruby, I think we have more pressing matters to attend to," Weiss pointed her rapier to the now smoldering village, "Like...the fact Redo is near destroyed!"
"Oh, right," Ruby said sheepishly, and used her speed to race towards the blackened town. Yang attached her crossbows back to where they belonged and ran after her sister. The whole place was burnt down, with barely any houses left standing and no one to be seen. A vile taste erupted in Yang's mouth, and she forced herself to swallow it.
"Is anyone still alive?" What a stupid thing to ask, Yang realized. Of course nobody was alive! Who could survive-
"Yang, look at this!" Ruby called, and gestured to a mass of people coming from behind some distant desert mountain.
"What the?" Yang muttered, and watched as the people walked over to Redo. Their faces turned to anger, fear, and hopelessness before finally reaching the trio of girls.
"Um..." Ruby held out her hand, "I'm Ruby!" Her upbeat attitude contrasted with the somber scene, "Oh...probably not the most important thing right now..."
The people muttered amongst themselves. Yang noticed that they were all carrying bags and were dressed in clean clothes, like they were going somewhere.
Suddenly, it clicked, "You were expecting this, weren't you?"
They didn't answer.
"Why did that thing-"
"Fire Basilisk," Weiss coughed.
"Thank you...Weiss," Yang grumbled, "Why did that fire basilisk attack your guys' village?" No one dared to move.
At last, however, a solitary man made his way to the front and cleared his throat, "I'm Orion, the town mayor. Allow me to explain this predicament, please." He gulped.
"Go on," Weiss ordered.
"We awakened it only a mere three weeks ago, and even since then it's been terrorizing our village by burning it down in clipped intervals. But, today it destroyed more than the other two attacks put together," Orion gave a shudder.
"How do you awaken something like that?" Weiss asked haughtily.
"We were excavating a cave over there-" He pointed to another set of distant mountains opposite of where his people came from, "When it collapsed partially and ended up making an opening to this eerie place. I have never seen a cave quite like it before. Full of purple mist and strange whispers."
"What happened after that?" Ruby asked.
"The serpent came from nowhere," The man said, "It killed some of our men and went out into the light. Now, it comes back every week to get revenge."
"Well...that's not good," Yang stated.
"Please, you must help us," The man got down on his knees and clasped his hands together, "I am begging you."
"Listen, Mr. Mayor," Yang took a step back, "We're not really heroes, we're-"
"Huntresses!' Ruby pushed her sister to the side and held up Crescent Rose, "Protectors of humanity and slayer of the monsters that threaten to snuff out the light of all mankind!"
Redo's people started to smile, and Yang and Weiss both fought the urge to slap their youngest teammate.
"We are the ones that bring justice to those deserving!" Ruby swung her scythe in an impressive motion, sending 'ooes' and 'ahs' coming her way, "That restore balance and hope to those who have none!"
"And we are also LEAVING," Weiss grabbed Ruby's cape and dragged the redhead and her fantasy towards the edge of Redo, "NOW."
"What are you thinking, Ruby?" Yang shouted, "We can't just go after a flaming snake and expect to win!"
"But if we don't then that thing will keep burning down those peoples' homes!" Ruby protested.
"Basilisks are not to be messed with," Weiss stated, "Especially ones that shoot flames."
"But, we have to help the people!" Ruby said, "We can't just leave them to fend for themselves. I can already tell they're not fighters!"
"Listen, Rubes," Yang said, "I know you want to help them, but-"
"No butts, Yang Xiao Long," Ruby snapped, her once tired expressions now hard and cold, "What would mom do?"
Yang was at loss for words. Why in the Remnant did Ruby have to inherit her mom's selflessness? It was both a blessing and a curse in itself, "I-"
"We have to help them! I can do it!" To prove her point, Ruby spun Crescent Rose around before implanting the weapon into the sandy earth, "Besides, I'm anything but sleepy anymore."
She was right, although Yang would never admit it. Leaving a whole village to defend themselves against something almost invincible was the wrong thing to do, no matter what the circumstance. But, how could three almost inexperienced Huntresses defeat a creature that could kill with one breath?
"Yang, think for a moment," Weiss said sternly, "That snake won't be defeated easily."
"But can it be defeated?" Yang asked, almost, key word, almost, regretting this question.
"Well...yes, but-"
"Then it's settled," Yang's stomach flopped a bit, but she ignored the sensation. Ruby squealed in delight as she realized what her sister was saying.
"Weiss, do you have any ice crystals?" Ruby inquired.
"Are we seriously doing this?" She asked, but nevertheless brought out some light blue packets of dust. Yang got on one knee and looked her sister dead in the eyes.
"Ruby. We can't always be the heroes you want us to be," Yang said, "Are you absolutely sure that we have a chance at fighting this basilisk?"
The redhead didn't miss a beat, "I know we can." She clutched Yang's hand and brought it over to the a crimson-streaked necklace, "And mom does too."
Vacuo
On the Outskirts of Redo
Finding the haunted cave was easier said than done, obviously. The mayor had sent a few men to lead Team RWY to the main entrance, and from there they were expected to navigate themselves. Weiss, of course, had prepared some torches beforehand, and warned the two sisters that they had to remember which way they came from, or else they would get lost.
"Also make sure to always stay in earshot and eyeshot range," The heiress instructed, "The mayor said that the cave splits during different parts, and that's when we near the next cave, the ground should have large cracks. After reaching these cracks, we should be able to find this fire basilisk's dwelling and hopefully defeat it. Since we're in a small space, defeating the snake should be both hard and easy, as it won't have a lot of area to avoid attacks, but we ourselves will also not be able to dodge it's fire easily. I have given you both an ice crystal to use when you are close enough to throw it. Once it lands on the basilisk, it should extinguish the flames for several seconds, in which we'll have enough time to strike and eventually hit a weak spot of some kind. Then-" Weiss scowled, "Ruby, are you even listening?"
"Cake...cake..." Ruby murmured, her head resting on the walls of the cavern, "Cake-"
Weiss smacked the girl, hard.
"IMAWAKE!" Ruby flailed her arms around before realizing what had happened, "Oops..."
"Do you want to get burned to the crisp?" Weiss snarled.
"Ruby, you got to pay attention," Yang said.
"I know, I know," Ruby said, "And I was...sort of. Grab a torch, find the snake, and then kill it," She beamed.
Weiss slapped her face in pure agitation, "Yes. I suppose that's correct, if not lacking in the plan part." She lifted her own light up, revealing the vast cave that stood before them. Stalagmites and stalactites poked out everywhere, and the tan color of sand seemed to cover the whole area, "Well, here goes nothing." The Atlesian Princess took a deep breath.
"Let's go kick some snake butt," Ruby readied Crescent Rose, and Yang restocked her crossbows.
"Do you even know how to shoot those things?" Weiss questioned.
"Yeah, my dad taught me when I was younger," Yang said confidently, "But...that was also over seven years ago."
"Relax, Yang, you'll be fine," Ruby assured her older sister.
"You know, I would feel a lot more confident is someone would have listened to my almost full-proof plan!" Weiss gave an icy glare towards a certain redhead.
"Weiss, relax," Ruby said, "I can do this. We can do this. Besides, it's not like the snake's the only thing we have to fight." Her eyes suddenly widened, "By the way, I was thinking of possible team names we could have."
"A...team name?" Weiss said in a very unexcited way.
"Yeah!" Ruby said, "So, like R-W-Y."
"R-W-Y?" Weiss said, "Team Why, maybe?"
"But WHY would we do that?" Yang gave a cheeky grin.
"Oh, how about team RYE!" Ruby suggested.
"Like the bread?" Weiss said flatly.
"Sure, why not?!" Ruby said, "We are the defenders of Remnant, the heroes of mankind-"
"And the eaters of bread!" Weiss joined, only to be glared at, "What?"
"No, just...no."
Finding the fire-breathing basilisk in the middle of an intricate cave system was surprisingly easy. The cave tunnels weren't that difficult to navigate, and the walls had scorch marks every few feet and so. All Team RYE (The name had already caught on) had to do was follow the burns.
"This is odd…" Weiss mumbled, rapier prepped and ready.
"What is?" Ruby asked.
"The fact that we've been walking for so long and haven't seen any sign of this fire basilisk," Weiss said, "I mean, we haven't even stumbled upon what the village said would be a massive breakage of caves from the collapsing."
"Maybe we're just heading the wrong way," Ruby said.
"But these marks say we aren't," Yang pointed out, and raised her torch to show the black streaks, "And besides-GAH!" Stumbling downwards, the usually graceful blonde tripped over her feet and ended up tumbling into a large abyss.
"Yang!" A hand wrapped around her ankle just as she fell all the way in, and Yang let out a curse as the crossbow and torch she was holding disappeared into the hole's darkness. Well, at least she had another one.
"Ruby, help me pull her up!" Weiss commanded, and soon the two girls managed to hoist their teammate back onto the safe haven of rock.
"That….was way too close," Yang breathed.
"Are you okay?" Ruby questioned.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but some of my supplies is now lost," Yang scowled.
"Well, we found the cave wreckage," Ruby said, pointing to the massive boulders and rocks all crashed together in front of them. Holding up her light, the fifteen year old girl studied the ruins before finding a small, uncovered space to peek through.
"What do you see?" Yang asked, curious to know what was behind the destruction.
"A bunch of purple mist stuff, just like the mayor said there would be," Ruby answered, "Here, come look." Yang obliged and went over to her sister's side.
"Remnant, that is some thick fog," Was the first thing Yang said after peering through the hole. The whole area was coated in several shades of purple, ranging from the darkest indigoes to the lightest lilacs, and seemed to give off an eerie glow, "I wonder what's behind all of it."
"The snake we have to kill, that's what," Weiss said, and jabbed her rapier at the rock wall, "Now, how on earth are we going to get passed this?"
"The mayor did state that there was some sort of entrance leading into there," Ruby said, "So, all we have to do is find it."
"Or…" Yang said, "Ice princess here can just use one of her dust crystals to blast the boulders back."
"This dust is only for emergencies only," Weiss answered at once, "And must be used for more important things rather than to 'blast boulders back'."
"Just a suggestion," Yang said.
"Or I can just do this," Without waiting for a reply, Ruby stabbed Crescent Rose into the tiny hole before activating her semblance and speeding back. A low sounding rumble resonated throughout the tunnel, and the rocks around the hole started to fall apart.
"Ruby, what the hell did you do?" Weiss yelled.
"O-oops," Ruby said. Out of the corner of her vision, Yang noticed the stone starting to break…
"Get down!" Hurrying over to her sister, the brawler pushed Ruby down as the whole cave began to shake violently. Ignoring the fear coursing through her veins, Yang positioned herself on top of her sister, blocking numerous pieces of large stone from crushing her head. A few moments of deafening silence followed after, and she coughed loudly as a blanket of dirty ash choked her throat.
"Yang, Ruby?!" Weiss called from a distance, "Are you two fairing okay?"
"You okay, Rubes?" Yang asked.
"Mmhmm," Came a nearly quiet answer.
"Try not to do something stupid like that again," Yang said gently.
"Okay," Ruby said.
"Good, now let's get up because this position is really awkward," The two sisters separated from each other and brushed off the dirt that had collected on their outfits before grabbing their fallen weapons.
"Ruby, please try and think before acting," Weiss said as she walked over.
"Sorry..." Ruby held her gaze low.
"Look on the bright side, though," Yang said, hoping to cheer up the redhead, "The rubble's clear now." That, in fact, was very true. The once gigantic wall of ruins was now all mainly specks of broken stone and jagged pieces. Purple mist started to pour into the tunnel, however, because of the lack of a barrier blocking the way.
"Ugh, this stuff smells absolutely repulsive," Weiss pinched her nose and waved her palm to try and steer the aroma from her senses.
"What is this stuff, anyways?" Ruby scooped some in her hand and brought it to her mouth.
"Ruby!" Yang thwacked the odd material from her sister, "Don't eat the mist!"
Hisssssssss
The trio froze, a deathly silence filling the caves.
"Um, was that just me or did I hear-"
Hisssssss. Yang gulped.
Weiss gestured for the others to be quiet, and raised her rapier in an odd stance. Did the princess even know how to use that thing?
More sounds of hissing echoed throughout the tunnels, sending chills down Yang's spine no matter how much she assured herself they could defeat the basilisk. Crossbow lifted, she aimed it forwards just in case any unwanted snake came at her again. Beside her, Ruby's head swerved back and forth in a paranoid fashion as the three girls continued their journey deeper into the cavern system, and the mist grew heavier and heavier with each step.
Hisssssss. Hisssssss.
"Guys," Ruby said in an almost inaudible tone, "Maybe we're going-"
Weiss suddenly moved her arm in front of the fifteen year old, her almost glowing pale face encased with worry, "Don't take another step."
"Huh?" Ruby said.
Gurgle. Gurgle.
"What was that?" Yang asked, not really wanting to know.
"Look down," Was all Weiss said. The blonde cautiously then poked her head over Weiss's shoulder and felt her heart drop.
A ravine. A seemingly endless and deep ravine to be more specific. Not like the ones with leafy vines and dripping crystals of water that could send a sense of beauty to those who explored.
No. For below lied a hellish scene. With the floor covered in dead, earthen clefts that oozed bubbling lava and painted with blood red markings of heat and fresh burning sensations. The rocks were pitch black, like obsidian, and every so often had a gray silhouette smeared across as if something had taken a person's shadow and smacked it in a random location. Above, the roof was invisible, replaced by stormy clouds raining dreary droplets of rain that seemed to disappear before even reaching the opposite element below. On the cavern wall in front of Yang, an unmistakable vertical crack was running downwards, the same purple mist from before pouring out in puffy wave, and strange runes that shone with a vivid white encircled the fissure, their edges both swirly and sharp at the same time.
Yang narrowed her eyes, "Ruby, can I see Luxa's diary?"
"Um, sure," Ruby dug through her backpack and brought out the ancient book, "Here you go."
"Thanks," Yang flipped past a couple of pages before finally reaching one with the same symbols as the one near the crevice, "Guys, look at this!" She held it up.
"They're the same," Ruby said.
"Yeah, but I'm more worried about this," Weiss gestured to the picture in the corner of the page, where a long, thin serpent like creature was crudely drawn on with faded charcoal, "This section of the diary must be talking about this monster and that crack."
"Too bad we can't read it," Yang mumbled.
"Why would a fire basilisk be here of all places?" Weiss pondered out loud, "I mean, they're made of fire for Remnant's sake, not dark rock or purple swirling mist."
"Well, it's not like you find flaming serpents everywhere..." Yang said.
"I know, I know," Weiss said in a frustrated voice, "I'm just so confused on why it's here of all places!"
"Maybe this ravine is just its home," Ruby said.
"Or..." Weiss's eyes suddenly widened in horror.
"Uh, are you-"
"We have to flee now!" Weiss exclaimed, grabbing her comrades' wrists before dragging them away from the ledge.
"Whoa, slow down, ice princess!" Yang shouted, only for her words to fall on deaf ears.
"Weiss, what's the matter?" Ruby asked, obviously startled by her teammate's sudden fear.
"I know why this snake lives here," Weiss said in a quick manner, "Fire basilisks are extremely rare in the world, but can live up to hundreds of centuries."
"Will you stop quoting your lessons and get to the point?!" Yang snapped, her arm starting to hurt from the ice princess's yanking.
"They're also known for guarding what historians and explorers have described as the entrance to the hellish world."
"T-the what now?" Ruby squeaked, face gone pale.
"The Gates to Hell-" Weiss ducked a stalactite, "Also known as The Gates of Hell. The exit and entrance to the Underworld."
"I thought you said you didn't believe in legends like that?" Yang asked.
"Well, I never thought I would unwillingly tossed into a journey with a bunch of lousy peasants!" Weiss snarled, "But guess what? Not all things work out."
"What do you mean by that?" Yang asked coldly.
"I'm just saying we have to leave now and don't question this statement!" Weiss said.
"This doesn't make sense, though!" Yang argued, "'The Gates of Hell? Are you serious?! I've seen hell before, Schnee, and it's not pretty."
"Will you stop fighting and follow me!" Weiss scowled, "Why are all peasants so stubborn and reckless!?"
"Excuse me!?" Yang said in shock.
"Guys, please don't-"
"Stay out of this, Ruby," Yang commanded sternly, "Listen here, snowflake. I didn't want you on this trip, and I sure didn't ask for you to come along. Ruby and I, we would've been perfectly fine without you barging into our lives."
The floor started to rattle a bit, but the blonde didn't notice in her rage.
"How dare you say that about me!" Weiss fumed, her fists clenched tightly, "You have no right-"
"I have all the right!" Yang screamed, "You're nothing but a spoiled princess that always contradicts herself and never apologies or likes to admit you're wrong!"
"I'm not wrong!" Weiss yelled back, then started to run again, "Now, just keep moving!"
"Uh…guys…" Ruby said quietly.
"Will you stop acting so bossy?"
"I'm not bossy!" Weiss put her hands on her hips, "Don't say that again! And besides, it seemed that you enjoyed having me in charge back there."
"Well, before you started acting like this without giving any explanation why," Yang growled.
Hissssssssss.
"I'm trying to save our lives is what I'm doing!" Weiss countered, "And you're just going to get us killed!"
Hissssssssss.
"GUYS!"
"WHAT?!" Yang and Weiss shrieked in unison.
Hissssssssss.
"RUN!" Ruby didn't waste a second in knocking down the two fighting girls as a slinky serpent came rampaging down the cave tunnels. A jet of fire blasted past the trio, and Yang felt the searing heat of red and orange flames nearly turn her into a crispy pile of ash.
"We have to go now!" Weiss ordered. The blonde didn't bother to argue, and jumped up before making a mad dash. Ruby by her side, she let out a curse as the basilisk came flying back right to where they were standing.
"Anyone have a plan?!" She cried, watching as the serpent drew closer.
"Uh…" Ruby frantically looked around the enclosed space, "Um…"
Suddenly, a low humming sound filled their ears, and Yang heard Weiss gasp as a dark indigo snowflake design appeared under their feet. Yang had never seen snow before, living in the hottest country of Remnant, but had been given enough descriptions by visitors and travelers to know what they looked like. The snowflake was a masterpiece, complete with intricate patterns of complex lines and symmetrical points sticking out in eight directions.
"What the-AHHHHHH!" Yang's body jerked back, but her feet remained implanted into the ground as the snowflake took off towards the ravine. A loud screeching sound (presumably the basilisk's) pierced the air like a sword straight off the whetstone, and the blonde barely had time to dodge all the hanging rocks that threatened to skewer her brain.
"Weiss, what are you doing?!" Ruby gasped, barely managed to hold on to Crescent Rose.
"I have no idea!" Weiss admitted. Yang spared a glance backwards and saw that the basilisk was still too close for comfort.
"Well, keep doing whatever the hell it is!" Yang said.
"I can't stop it!" Weiss informed, panic evident in her tone, "Everyone hold on!" The snowflake flew over the ravine ledge.
Yang put her hand to her mouth to stop the bile rising up her throat, and curled in a fetal position mid-way through the snowflake launch sequence. Beside her, Weiss flicked her wrist, causing another snowflake, this one much large, to appear under everyone's body and send them hurtling into the wall crevasse in a vertical angle. Feeling the sharp edges of stone scrape her scalp, Yang refused to move an inch of her head until the coast was clear.
CRASH! Yang was flung into Weiss as the glyph disappeared and let go of both of their feet.
"Goddam-" Yang's sentence was cut off as she smacked into a nearby rock. Her vision flashed with vivid colors and shapes, "-mit"
"Ugh, my head…" Weiss rubbed her injured body.
"Guys!" Ruby called out, and Yang suddenly snapped out of her dazed stupor.
In other words, she remembered a fire-breathing basilisk was chasing them right next to the marvelous Gates of Hell.
"Ruby!" Readying her crossbow, the blonde wasted no time in preparing for the worst. Scanning the purple fog for any sign of her sister, all she could find was the slippery serpent carefully making its way towards its next prey: Her. As fast as lightning, the snake struck, it's fangs wide and rearing, ready to ensnare a juicy meal. Yang fired her weapon, only for the arrow to bounce harmlessly off the white teeth, and she tossed the ice crystal at its head, causing the basilisk to stop and shriek in pain,
"Get out of the way!" A voice instructed, and Yang felt her feet move on their own. Glancing down, she found that Weiss's snowflakes's were back again. The ice princess was struggling to conjure more, having just discovered the ability, but was able to form a few a launch them at the basilisk's neck and draw blood.
"Her semblance!" Ruby sped right next to her sister's side, "Yeah, go Weiss!"
The monster turned its attention to the girl in red.
"Run!" Weiss yelled.
"C'mon!" Yang grabbed Ruby's hand and the two made their way into the misty air. The smell of smoke made her gag, but she refused to stop and take a breath. Tumbling to the ground, the sisters took refuge behind a protruding rock, and Ruby aimed her scythe upwards.
Hisssssss. The basilisk drew nearer.
"Get ready…" Ruby whispered. Yang positioned her bow.
The snake lunged from up top.
"NOW!" Ruby swung her scythe with all the strength she could muster at the creature's neck, followed quickly by Yang's round of razor-sharp arrows. Both weapons impaled the scaly skin of the monster, causing it to howl in torment and flail around wildly, "Go, Yang, so you can get a better shot at it!" Yang obeyed Ruby and ran away from the bloody scene before meeting up with Weiss.
"Ruby, stop!" The heiress screamed, her voice hoarse, "Get away from there!"
"What, what is it?!" Yang asked;
"You can't fight a basilisk like she is!" Weiss struggled to summon another snowflake, "Damn, why couldn't I have unlocked this sooner. Ruby STOP!" She began to run, "Stop! Basilisks are capable of-"
Dammit. Yang watched in horror was the serpent's fiery red eyes began to shine a pitch black, causing her little sister to look up and freeze. Crescent Rose slipping out from her fingers, the redhead seemed to be frozen solid from her head to her toes.
Basilisks were capable of freezing their enemies stiff.
"NO!" Yang fired another arrow, but the creature was not fazed by this pathetic attack, "Weiss, do something!"
"I'm trying!" The princess scowled, "Just draw the attention away from her and we'll have a chance!"
Yang felt her whole body shake in both fear and anger, but she would not be deterred by the fact facing a basilisk head on would lead to death. All she cared about was her sister and her sister alone.
"Hey you stupid piece of snake skin!" Not the best insult, but that was the least of her worries. Charging straight at the monster, she raised her bare fists, "Get away from my SISTER!" At the last word, the snake turned away from its victim and became quiet interested in the yellow-headed beast racing at it.
Hissing, it swiped its tail in the girl's direction, only for her to jump and latch onto it, a look of pure determination on her face.
"Nice try," Yang muttered, and, using one of her arrow, began to repeatedly stab the serpent, creating nice, even puncture wounds.
The beast let out a roar of agony, and, in an act of rage, flicked the tail with all its might, sending the blonde sprawling into the purple mist and away from his next meal. However, by then another pesky human had decided to play along as well.
"Weiss, now!" Yang shouted, and the heiress swiftly exited her hiding spot behind a rock before slicing a bit of the snake's tail.
Tumbling to the right, the heiress managed to hold her ground by gracefully dodging incoming fang attacks and directing them back at her opponent. However, she had trouble with keeping this trick up, and her feet often stumbled over themselves if the snake got too close for comfort. Yang knew that she would need help, and soon.
Suddenly, a chip of rock fell onto the blonde's skull, and an idea popped into her mind. Looking up, the many dangling rows of stalactites seemed to give off a helpful aura. Crossbow aimed, she quickly shot a few arrows into the air, making sure to try and hit the stalactites themselves.
"Weiss, get out of there!" Yang yelled, and the Atlesian princess started to run. Before the basilisk could give pursuit, however, the stalactites luckily impaled into its skin, sending the creature into a fit of rage, and as it waved around aimlessly, Weiss took the chance to flee towards Ruby.
"We need a new plan!" Weiss said once she reached the redhead's side, "None of this is working."
"I know, I know!" Ruby said as she wiped sweat off her forehead and leaned on Crescent Rose, "Okay, okay, I've got one!"
"That fast?" Weiss said, surprised that formulating plans were so fast for her teammate.
Ruby nodded, "All we have to do is lead the fire basilisk past the wall cleft and into the other wall across the ravine. The impact will hopefully cause it to be injured enough, or, will even cause enough force for it to die."
"Yang!" Weiss called, "Distract the basilisk and try to find a way to bring it over towards the crevice!"
"On it!" Yang said, and loaded her crossbows once more before charging. Weapon locked and ready, she tried to remember her father's words of wisdom.
Always look straight ahead. Always be on guard. And don't think about how much damage you can create, only how precise your shot is, for that's what counts.
Now free from falling rocks, the snake let out a mighty battle cry before realizing the same pesky girl was coming at it.
Don't worry, Rubes, I got this, Yang thought confidently.
WHAM! A strike from a certain basilisk's tail knocked the wind out of the brawler's lungs, and she was flung a few feet away like a lifeless ragdoll. Aura doing its best to heal the wounds, she felt like her ribs had been broken and her back relocated.
I don't got this, Yang mentally groaned, Crap, that didn't work as well as I wanted.
"Just go now!" Weiss ordered, and a blur of red whisked past Yang's fallen figure before rushing at the basilisk. Making her way up the beast's body, Ruby sped all across the scaly skin before landing back on the cave floor and at Weiss. Now with its attention towards this new person, the snake bared its fangs and made haste in trying to catch his prey. Slithering at a fast speed, it failed to notice that it was drawing to the wall cleft with every passing second. Eyesight blurry, Yang could make out Weiss standing up above, her face strained and red from concentration.
C'mon, Weiss. Just one snowflake to get Ruby out of there, Yang inhaled sharply as her rib made a cracking noise. Ruby held Crescent Rose forwards, a look of pure determination of her face, and she signaled for Weiss to summon one last escape attempt.
And that was when everything went wrong.
Seeing the snow-white girl ready to strike, the basilisk hissed and fired a jet of searing lava towards Weiss, who promptly cursed and was forced to tumble to the left.
"Weiss!" Ruby shouted, "Gah!" Feet now above the empty space of the ravine, she tried to swing her scythe backwards in hopes of latching onto the ledge.
Only, it was a snake. Yang, mind racing lifted her crossbow and shot an arrow at the snake's head, only for the projectile to miss a mile away from its target. Heart dropping, the blond could only watch in complete helplessness, for as Ruby's scythe impaled the fiery serpent, its mouth opened up wide, revealing razor-sharp fangs, fangs that even she couldn't avoid with her speed. Eyes wide, lips moving but not making any sound, the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart, the sight of flesh, flesh that belonged to her baby sister, would forever haunt Yang's mind. The basilisk, now knowing that it had captured its prey, instantly dove downwards and preformed a loop as it followed along the ravine walls, red haired girl still in its grasp, before finally reentering the purple mist cave and barreling past Yang into a dark, endless abyss.
Silence. Complete and utter silence. Yang felt her brain stop, felt the heart-wrenching feelings of loss rip at her very soul.
Ruby was gone. Just like that.
And she didn't even get to say goodbye.
No.
No.
No, she couldn't be dead.
Ruby couldn't be dead.
Ruby was kind, Ruby was sweet, Ruby was HER sister. Her life, her everything.
She couldn't be dead.
No. She wasn't dead when the basilisk stabbed her. She was still alive. Eyes open, not closed. Chest rising, not still.
She could still be alive. She could be ALIVE.
She HAD to be alive.
And with this thought, Yang staggered up before realizing that she was lying in a pool of blood and burnt off skin.
Ah, bloody hell.
Then everything went dark.
Vacuo
9 Year Ago
The girl let out a deep breath as she raised the crossbow up to her shoulder. Eyes focused, arms ready to fire, she refused to let anything get in her way of victory. Her target? The very thing that she had to kill.
A fake dummy that dangled limply from the tree in front of her.
"Easy there, Yang," A man leaned down beside her and studied her posture, "Make sure to keep your chin high and your arms nice and sturdy. The recoil of this thing is still a bit strong for you."
"I've got this, dad," Yang grinned before going back to focusing on the target. Maybe just a little bit more to the left…
WHOOSH! The arrow embedded itself deep into the mannequin's chest, letting forth the sweet sight of stuffing. Yang felt her the man slap her back in pride, and she let herself relax a bit.
"How'd I do?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
"Excellent," The man answered proudly, "You're turning out to be a real sharpshooter."
"You think I can go hunting with you soon?" Yang said hopefully. Ever since the start of her training, the eight year old had desperately wanted to accompany her father into the woods and kill actual animals.
"I don't think your mother would like you doing that at such a young age," Her father said.
"But Ruby's only six and she gets to help Qrow in the shop!" Yang pouted, "There's fire, sharp tools, and even-"
"Alright, alright," Her father chuckled, "I see your point. But, your mommy knows Qrow can keep your sister out of trouble."
"Oh, and you can't with me?" Yang stuck out her tongue and made a face. Not to be rude, but for the fun of it.
"Yang, I couldn't keep you out of trouble if my life depended on it," Her father suddenly scooped up the little blonde haired girl, causing her to drop the crossbow and laugh wildly.
"Stop it, stop it, it tickles!" Yang shrieked, her cheeks turning red from laughing so much.
"Yang, Taiyang!" A voice called out from behind them. Putting his daughter down, the man named Taiyang turned around to see a woman with bright silver eyes and dark red clothing giving them an amused look.
"What is it Summer?" Taiyang asked jokingly, "Can't I have fun with my daughter?"
"Hi, mom!" Yang called out.
"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes," The woman named Summer said, "Tonight is green beans with special stew Qrow decided to make."
"Dear Lord, help us," Taiyang did a cross sign over his chest, "For my brother-in-law is cooking tonight."
"Taiyang!" Summer said, "Be polite! His cooking is not that terrible."
"My bread turned to ashes," Yang said flatly.
"Yang, you be polite too," Summer warned.
"Okay, okay," Yang muttered, knowing that her mother was not someone to mess with.
"So, how's the archery going?" Summer asked.
"I hit the dummy!" Yang exclaimed, her eyes full of excitement, "Look!" Running over to the lifeless doll, she pulled out the arrow and displayed it in a dramatic pose.
"That's wonderful," Her mother said kindly, "You are truly a father's girl."
"She gets her looks after me," Taiyang flexed his muscles, leading Yang to do the same.
"I…see," Summer stifled a laugh, "Well, then. Despite the fact you two have strong arms, I still need you to wash up and get ready for supper."
"Aww…" Both whined.
"No complaining," Summer warned, then headed back inside the house, "Ruby and Qrow are already setting the table."
"Ugh, why can't we practice some more?" Yang said.
"Because now it's time to EAT!" Her father bellowed, lifting Yang up again before carrying her towards their home.
"Aw, but I'm not hungry," Yang argued, only for her stomach to grumble, "Heh, heh…"
The two entered the dining room/living room where Ruby and Qrow were busily setting the hanops, pitcher, and plates on the table. The little redheaded six year old was racing around in a hurried manner trying to set everything up in time.
"Dada!" Ruby cried as soon as she saw her father emerge.
"What's up my little gem?" Taiyang picked up his other daughter and she snuggled her head into his shoulder in an affectionate way.
"Hi, Ruby!" Yang chirped, and wiggled out of her father's arms before running over to her Uncle Qrow, "Guess what?!
"What?" Her uncle said.
Yang scowled, "I can't tell you until you guess."
Qrow let out a dramatic sigh, "Alright, then. I guess…that you have something to tell me?"
"Ugh…" Yang said, "Fine, fine. I'll tell you. I hit the dummy's leg!"
"That's impressive," Qrow said, "Though, I guess with the best archer in town teaching you, I shouldn't be surprised."
"Uncle Qrow, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted, "Tell them about the scine!"
"The scine?" Taiyang asked.
"Oh, you mean the scythe!" Qrow said.
"What's a scythe?" Yang inquired.
"A scythe is a very big and heavy weapon that has a curved blade and long handle," Qrow explained, "Ruby was watching me add the finishing touches to it today."
"Scine! Scine!" Ruby giggled.
"Sc-y-the," With a s sound, Ruby," Yang corrected her sister's mispronunciation.
"Scine!" The ever oblivious six year old said again.
"Don't worry, Yang," Qrow said to his frowning niece, "She'll learn eventually."
"Supper is ready! I hope two certain blondes have washed up!" Summer called from the kitchen.
"Uh-oh," Both Yang and Taiyang gulped before sprinting to the outside washtub, slapping a few bubbles onto their hands, and quickly rinsing off in cold water.
"Done!" They both panted as they raced back into the house and sat down right as Summer came walking in.
"Bad daddy and Yang," Ruby mumbled, knowing of her family members' naughtiness.
"Oh, be quiet, Ruby!" Yang said as her mother poured some soup into their bowls.
"I hope you enjoy your uncle's stew," Summer said. Yang peered into her serving and let out a gag.
"Uncle Qrow, why are there feathers in here?"
Vacou
Present Day
Yang didn't want to open her eyes. For, even after slowly regaining consciousness, even after realizing that she was far away from the cave and all hellish nightmares in it, even after knowing she was safe and alive, the pain of Ruby's death was still torturing her.
And, so, here she was. Lying who knew where with a growling stomach and a half-broken ribcage about to shatter with every breath she inhaled.
In and out.
In and out.
A never ending cycle that seemed to taunt Yang. That told her 'hah! You're alive. You're breathing, but what about your sister, huh? What about Ruby!?'
She didn't want to breath anymore. But, she was forced to, as suffocating yourself is harder than it looks.
In and out.
In and out.
Where was Weiss? Did she run away? Did she flee? For some reason, Yang didn't really care. She didn't give a damn about anyone in her life after her parents had died.
No one but her uncle...and Ruby.
Ruby. The image of the bloodied fang carrying her body to the depths of darkness made Yang want to scream.
Ruby was gone. Never to laugh, or cry, or even hold Yang close like she did when they were little. Never to ramble on about colors, the moon, or life in general.
Never to be a Huntress, like she always wanted.
I'm so sorry, Ruby, Yang felt a single tear slip down her cheek and onto the dry sandy earth.
In and out.
In and out.
In and-
"I know you're awake, Yang," A voice said softly.
Weiss?
Weiss.
"How could you!" Yang bolted up from her 'sleep' and would have pounded the princess if a snowflake didn't block from her landing a punch. Weiss's face was impassive, almost relaxed, and she seemed to have a greater control over her semblance now that a giant snake wasn't threatening to eat them.
"Listen to me," Weiss said calmly, "I know-"
"You know what!?" Yang tried to attack the heiress once more, only to trip from her injuries and fall into the sand.
"I know that you're injured, for starters," Weiss smirked.
"And I know that you could have saved her," Yang croaked, her voice cracking. Weiss's arrogant smile was instantly replaced with sorrow, and she brought down her semblance.
"I also know it was my fault..." She whispered sadly, "I shouldn't have tried to use my semblance mere moments after activating it. It was my fault," Her voice grew louder and she gripped her rapier with more force, "But it was also yours!"
Yang opened her mouth.
"Don't you dare start with your excuse, Yang!" Weiss yelled, "It was both our faults and you know it! I know it! We were being stupid, we w-were acting like children!" She started to swing her weapon around and around without aiming at anything, "We were being complete dunces and refused to see the fact a basilisk was heading straight towards us!" She kicked up a pebble, "But…it wasn't just my fault."
Yang lowered her gaze and felt the gritty sand dig into her palms. A minute of silence passed by, only to be broken by the distant cricket chirping or a breeze blowing by.
Finally, she spoke, "Where are we?"
"We're still near the cave, if that makes you feel any better," Weiss answered.
It didn't.
"But we're not exactly near Redo, either. Failing to kill the basilisk isn't going to let us sleep there."
"I don't care about Redo," Yang snapped, "I don't care about anything." Positioning herself away from the snow queen, she sat crouched and alone.
"Yang..." Weiss said, "Please...I know you're hurting, but please just try and talk-"
"HOW!?" Yang's eyes burned red and she spun around, whole body shaking violently, "HOW CAN I TALK TO SOMEONE WHO WON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH?! YOU'VE HAD A PERFECT LIFE IN YOUR STUPID CASTLE PROPERLY FED AND SERVED TO YOUR EVERY NEED. SO, TELL ME WEISS SCHNEE, HOW IN THE WORLD YOU CAN MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?!"
Weiss took word after word without even one flinch, a feat that impressed Yang slightly, and the white-haired girl merely gave her own icy stare back.
"Because I've lost family too."
This shocked Yang somewhat, and her face turned to confusion, "You what?"
Instead of talking right away, Weiss motioned for Yang to take a seat next to the fire she had somehow managed to create, and reluctantly, very reluctantly, the blonde obeyed. Tending to the source of fire, Weiss threw in a couple more scraggly sticks and watched as the flames grew higher; a scene that she made her heart ache.
"Winter...Winter always told me I was good at listening, as long as I didn't make any snide remark back," She let out an emotionless laugh as memories came flooding into her mind.
Yang sighed, "Sorry...sorry I tried to hit you..."
"I suppose I can forgive you this time," Weiss said, "You had your reasons, after all. I...I did fail Ruby."
Yang didn't argue with her, but instead rubbed her hand through her hair, "I failed her too. I shouldn't have been arguing with you about some stupid thing I can't even remember."
"And I...shouldn't have acted so capriciously without explaining my actions," Weiss admitted through a somewhat forced tone.
"It's...it's just..." Yang trailed off, then decided to change the subject, "So, who's Winter?"
Weiss pursed her lips, "My older sister. She was the heir to the Atlas throne..." She handed her teammate a cup of water.
"Was...oh," Yang connected the dots, "I'm sorry."
"She's the family member I was talking about," Weiss said, "She and I were really close, despite the fact my father often took her away on useless trips to prepare her for being queen one day."
"When did she die?"
"Well, she was ten when it happened, so…I was eight."
Yang suddenly let out a dozen or more choked coughs as the water she was sipping on went down the wrong tube. Hacking away, the blonde grasped her neck and struggled to regain some air.
"A-are you okay?" Weiss asked.
"Y-yeah, perfectly fine," Yang coughed, "D-did you say ten and eight?"
"Yes."
"That…that was when I lost my parents."
"Pardon me?" Weiss said.
"I was ten…and Ruby was eight," Yang explained.
"Oh…" Weiss said, "I suspected that your parents had passed away before I got to Signal, but I didn't want to bring it up."
"Yeah, it was kind of a touchy subject with Ruby," Yang said flatly, "But…I guess it doesn't matter anymore."
"May I ask what happened?" Weiss prepared for an onslaught of angry replies and maybe even a fist, but Yang only shrugged.
"Sure, why not," The blonde said, "It was in the middle of our hottest July, right after Ruby's eight birthday. My step-mom-"
"Your step-mom?"
"Yeah. Ruby and I are half-sisters. My other mother, I never knew her name, died right after I was born. My father...he was devastated, but, thanks to my uncle, my mom's brother, he managed to keep going."
"How did she die?" Weiss put her hand on Yang's for support.
"He would never talk about her, so I don't know. Probably got ill or something, but, it's not that relevant," Yang took a deep breath, "Anyways, my step-mom. Her name was Summer Rose, and she was like...super mom, and the reason why Ruby always wanted to be a hero. Summer, before she wandered into my dad's village, was basically like those Huntresses from old stories, as she went around Vacuo protecting people. After meeting my father, though, everything changed. They got married a year later, and another year passed before Ruby was born. Summer always made sure to make things fun, and filled Ruby's head with legend and myths and almost everything in between," Yang chuckled, "She made sure to act like a loving mother despite the fact I wasn't her daughter."
"She seems a lot better than my family," Weiss admitted, "My father is an ignorant bastard that doesn't give a crap about other's welfare. My mother is too weak-willed to argue, and my sister..." Her voice faltered, "My sister is dead and has left me a now nearly impossible duty to fulfill."
Yang stared at Weiss in surprise.
"I don't have a perfect life, Yang Xiao Long. And I know that doesn't give me an excuse to act like I do sometimes. But, you can't go around accusing me of not understanding your pain of losing someone you love when I am right now." Weiss let go of the blond's hand and turned away.
"Hey..." Yang reached out, "Listen. I guess...I was being a bit harsh. And, I'm sorry. But you also have to understand that Ruby's all I have left. The only thing I truly live for. Without her, everything just fades."
Weiss didn't respond.
"She's the only remnant of Summer...of my dad. Like I was saying before, they died when we were little."
"How?"
Yang subconsciously rubbed her concealed shoulder, "Ruby and I were back in Signal and still awake in our beds..."
Signal, Vacuo
7 Years Ago
"Hey, Ruby!" A mess of blond hair threw off the bedsheets and sprung up like a perky rabbit, "Psst, Remnant to sister!" She ran over to a certain redhead's bed and shook the a large lump.
"I'm up, I'm up!" Ruby exclaimed in a hushed whisper, and poked her head out from under the thick blanket her mother had given her for her eighth birthday, "What do you want to do now, Yang?"
Yang considered her sister's question, "Hmm. Let's see. Mommy and daddy said they would still be up for a while, so we can't sneak into the shop and duel."
"You still owe me two lien for our fight!" Ruby giggled, her memory being as sharp as a tact.
"Do not!" Yang shouted, then lowered her voice so as not to be caught, "You cheated and tripped me into the ground!"
"That's called being smart," Ruby said, "I just used my other body parts to help."
"Na-uh!" Yang said, and leaped upon her sister before reaching onto her neck to tickle her, "You ALSO used your own custom sword to win, which, mum said, you're not allowed to practice with unless she's watching."
"Stop, I can't breathe!" Her sister gasped and squirmed as Yang continued her onslaught of tickling. Laughing, the eight year old waved her arms around.
"Admit that I won!" Yang ordered.
"No way!" Ruby pouted.
"Ah, c'mon!" Yang whined, "You know I should've won."
"Hmph," Ruby crossed her arms and stuck out her lip.
"Oh no," Yang tried to cover her eyes, "Don't give me the puppy look, Rubes!"
Ruby made a whimpering noise and widened her silver eyes.
"Must-Resist-GAH!" Yang grabbed two lien from her dresser and tossed them in her sister's face, "Fine, you won fair and square."
"YAY!" Ruby flung her arms around Yang's neck and smiled, "Thanks, sis!"
Yang grinned, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just don't tell mommy we bet on our fights."
Ruby nodded, "So, what do you want to do now?"
Yang out her hand to her chin, "I don't know. Is it dark outside? Maybe we can go exploring for some rocks," She pushed away the violet curtains and peered towards the brightly lit sky, "Nope, the moon's nice and shiny tonight."
Ruby slipped off her bed and fetched her and Yang's shoes, "Here you go-" She tossed Yang her pair.
"Thanks," Yang quickly tied her boots on and went to the window's latch before hoisting the glass up and jumping out, "C'mon!" Ruby followed in a close pursuit, and the sisters sprinted past their wooden fence and into the forest.
"Should we collect berries, or nuts?" Ruby suggested.
"Nah, daddy says we have plenty of those," Yang said, "How about some firewood? So we don't have to go it tomorrow morning?"
"Won't they ask when we got it, though?"
"We'll just say we woke up early at dawn," Yang said smartly, "Besides, they can't prove we went out in the night if they don't catch us doing so."
"Hmm, I guess you're right," Ruby said, happy to accept Yang's words. The two inseparable sisters then began to gather a few stray pieces of wood here and there.
"I can't believe I'm eight..." Ruby abruptly said when the two were near finished.
"Yeah, but I'm still two years older than you," Yang teased, "And still will be forever."
"Yeah, but I'm almost as tall as you," Ruby countered, and proved her point by standing right next to her sister, "See?"
"Grrr, daddy just says I haven't had my growth spurt, yet," Yang protested.
"Or you're just short," Ruby said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Or you're just too tall," Yang countered.
"I wouldn't mind being tall," Ruby mused, "Mommy's tall and she seems to like it."
"Ruby...everyone is tall compared to you."
"Except for one person," The little girl said.
"Who?"
"...you!" Knowing her sister all too well, the redhead dropped her wood and began to sprint away.
"Why you little-Gah, come back here!" Yang chased after Ruby, arms ready to snatch her shirt, and she jumped over a fallen tree before managing to snag the eight year old and bring her to justice.
"Eek! You can't catch me, you can't catch me!" Ruby said in a sing-song voice, "AH!" She dodged an incoming arm and giggled, "You can't catch-" Skidding to a stop, the young girl froze all of a sudden.
"I got ya!" Yang wrapped her arms around Ruby, only to freeze as well, "What the..."
"Y-yang," Ruby shook in her half-sister's embrace, "What's g-going on?"
Signal was on fire. Heavy clouds of thick, black smoke bellowed out from the burning houses, and the screams and cries of death seemed to never cease. Yang stared in horror as she realized that her whole town was about to go down in ashes.
And her parents were still in their home.
"Ruby...Ruby stay here," Yang grabbed Ruby's wrist and roughly shoved her behind a tree trunk, "Stay here and don't move no matter what!"
"B-but what if you don't come back!" Ruby's eyes began to fill with tears, and she began to hyperventilate.
"I'll come back, I promise!" Yang kissed her younger sister's forehead, the scent of fresh roses filling her nose, "Everything will be alright."
And with those words she dashed off towards a burning hell.
"MOM! DAD!" Yang ran down the fire-filled streets of Signal and coughed loudly as smoke filled her lungs. Hot embers seemed to fly through the air, and threatened to scald her skin. Dark clouds of ash poured out of falling down houses, and the crackling bodies of villagers made her gut push up some nasty tasting vomit, "WHERE ARE YOU!"
There! There was her home! Without thinking, Yang raced over to her house and flung open the half-burnt door before going inside, "Mom! Dad! AH!" Her feet tripped over themselves as a piece of the roof fell onto her shoulder, sending burning flecks of fire on her skin. Holding back an earth-shattering scream, the girl managed to reach her parents' room before looking inside.
They were gone.
"Mom, dad?" Yang hesitantly asked. Where were they?
Suddenly, a loud crack emitted above, and Yang barely had time to tumble to the side as the entire house began to collapse on top of her. Adreniline coursing through her veins, the blonde scanned the room for anything capable of saving her.
The bed! She jumped down below and under the frame of the wide structure before forming a fetal position and covering her ears to block out the noise of rock crumbling and an inferno forming around her very body.
"Yang!" A familiar voice cried, "Yang!?"
Yang? Who was-her mother! Yang bonked her head on the bed as she struggled to get out. Her mother was somewhere! "Mommy?!"
"Yang!" Her mom's voice was close! Gasping, Yang felt a hand wrap around her leg before pulling her out. Shocked, the blond turned her head to see a woman with silver eyes staring at her in relief.
"Mom!" She shouted joyfully, and her mother dashed towards the window, Yang in her arms. Putting her daughter down, Summer lifted up the sill and threw Yang out.
"Is Ruby in there?" She asked.
"No, she's-" Yang's eyes widened and she let out a scream ,"MOM, LOOK-"
Too late. A beam encased in orange and blue flames suddenly fell onto her mom, sending the woman down towards the ground.
"NO!" Yang leaped at the window sill and tried to get back in, "MOM!" A now blackened hand reached out at her face, caressing it slowly and steadily, "MOM!" Tears falling down her face, a jet of flames shot up between her and her mother, "NO!" Yang tried to jump through the fire to save her mom, and withered back in pain as her skin barely manage to not burn off, "MOM!"
Craaaack! Horrified, Yang could only watch as the wooden window she was holding onto splintered, sending her spiraling towards the hard, cold Earth.
"Summer!" An agonized voice screamed, and between waves of blinding tears, Yang could make out a familiar looking figure leaping over the fence and limping towards her house.
"Uncle Qrow?" Yang said in a daze, "What are you doing here?"
Qrow glanced down and scooped her up in his thin arms, "Where's Ruby?"
"She's in the forest. We were exploring," Yang answered, and then the shock of nearly getting killed sept in, "MY MOM!" She hysterically tried to wiggle out of her uncle's grasp.
"Yang, Yang!" He said, "Calm down!"
"She's inside!" Yang cried, "She's going to die!"
Dying. Yang knew what it meant. It meant never coming back. It meant never breathing or living or tucking people in bed. It meant being buried six feet under yucky dirt and never seeing loved ones again.
Her mom couldn't be dead.
Could she?
"Yang, stop moving!" Her uncle firmly grabbed Yang's arms and held them down, "NOW!" Wet tears slipped off his cheeks and onto hers.
Then, "Where's daddy?"
Qrow could only move his lips in a numb silence and stare at the now smoke bellowing out of his niece's old home, "I...I don't know."
Liar. They both knew that was a complete and utter lie.
"Where's my dad?" Yang choked, "I know you're lying! W-where's my daddy!? Is he saving mommy?"
Silence. Painful, heart-wrenching silence.
"Where's mommy?" Yang importuned softly, not daring to meet her uncle's gaze, "Where is everyone!"
Qrow still didn't answer, only put Yang down on the ground, "Go...go get your sister."
Yang wouldn't move.
"I said go get your sister!" Qrow yelled, causing the ten year old to flinch. She didn't want to go get Ruby. Ruby was safe, hiding in the woods while her parents were in trouble.
"But-"
"NOW!"
"I hate you!" Yang screamed, her soul breaking apart in two, "My mommy is inside and you have to go rescue her!" She weakly punched her uncle in the leg, to no avail, "She's going to die!"
Qrow merely hugged Yang, tight, and she could feel her shoulder growing damp.
"Where's daddy?" She asked quietly again. Behind her, the searing heat of her cooking home seemed to seep through her clothing and scorch her skin, "Please...please tell me." Slowly, very slowly, Qrow let go of his niece and picked her up again before walking past the now burnt down fence and into the townsquare. A deafening silence filled the air, mixed with fear and smoke, creating a sickening smell of rotten flesh and an aroma of death. All around, people were scurrying from house to house, their buckets filled with useless well-water, their hearts filled with empty hope that they could save someone.
"Are you sure Ruby is in the forest?" Qrow asked.
Yang nodded, "I told her to stay no matter what."
Bodies. That's what she noticed next. Dozens of charred bodies all covered in soot and ash being thrown out of door ways by crying people.
It slapped Yang.
Realization.
Death.
The smell of death.
The taste of death.
The fact that she knew what had fully happened to her mother.
And to her father? Hope was useless now.
A song, one that she used to play so many times with Ruby.
"Ring around the rosie! Pocket full of posies! Ashes, ashes! We all fall down!"
Giggling like fools. Like children.
Bodies. Not a speck of blood on their black faces and crackling skin.
The flames came too fast for blood to be shed.
Yang gulped and numbly walked to a sobbing lady who was clutching the burnt palm of a nearby body. She walked over to a man who was desperately trying to put out a flame using a small amount of water.
And...she ordered him to stop.
It was hopeless, she said.
Vacuo
Present Day
"It turned out that a fire had broke out at the South side of Signal," Yang said in an almost inaudible voice, "But it spread so...so fast. My mom...she saved my life. And my dad...he didn't make it either. He was searching for Ruby and me when a building fell on top of him. God, I was so, so stupid. If I had just been in the house, sleeping like a good girl...then...then they would be alive. After that, Qrow took us in. We lived in his blacksmith shop, barely scraping by." Yang kicked the book that her uncle had given her, "And what's worse? This stupid thing survived the fire while my mother didn't get to. I didn't even get to say goodbye. It was just a miracle Ruby wasn't there. She would've broke. Would've lost everything that I loved about her."
"And you?" Weiss asked.
"Excuse me?"
"What about you?" Weiss said calmly, "What happened to you?"
"I...I learned that risking things. That breaking rules...it'll just break you in the end. I learned that Ruby wasn't going to get by in the world unless I worked my very best to ensure that she did. My uncle, he is a hard-working man, but because of this he couldn't spend a lot of time with us. I had to make sure that Ruby still had a childhood to hang onto. And so...I gave her everything I had. My attention, my rules, my love."
"But you lost yours in return," Weiss finished.
"You could say that," Yang said, "On and off again I was so protective, no, scared, to let Ruby just live her life in Signal. I didn't want to see her get hurt," She stopped at the last word, but managed to continue, "I wish that she was here."
"I do as well," Weiss admitted, "She was a bit hyper, but in a good way."
"I just...I just wish that wherever she is now...she's not alone..." It was then that Yang realized how exhausted she was, and began to lay her head down on the desert floor, "That she's with someone. Hey...Weiss?"
"Yes, Yang?" Weiss put one last stick in the fire.
"Do you think there's an afterlife?"
"I was never one for religion, Yang," Weiss remarked, "Never will be until I find time to study the world and everything in it. But, I do believe there is something after death, but I'm just not sure. I've always heard of spirits and fylgia-"
"Fyl-what now?" Yang said.
"Fylgia," Weiss repeated, "Otherwise known as spirits that accompany those in the living through dreams and thoughts. They act as guardians, ghosts who foretell danger and advise in certain subjects."
"Remnant, what I would do for one of those guys," Yang yawned loudly, "Thanks...thanks for listening to me, by the way."
"Everyone deserves to have someone to talk to," Weiss said wisely, "I should know."
Frowning, Yang replayed this response. Weiss...was a complex person, she could tell. Icy and cold on the outside, but pained and hurting on the inside.
Just like you sometimes, a small voice whispered in the back of Yang's head. Sure, Yang could be nice and caring, but only to Ruby, and to others she was as frigid as the snow queen herself. Maybe, maybe that's why they couldn't get along sometimes.
Maybe we can get along in the future, though, Yang thought, For our sake...for Ruby's sake.
"Good night, Yang," Weiss called from the other side of the dying fire.
"Night...Weiss," Yang closed her eyes and drifted off into a hopefully blissful sleep.
It wasn't blissful, that was for sure. In fact, it was probably the exact opposite of serene and peaceful.
"Yang, wake up!" A voice commanded, causing the once asleep blonde to jerk up and gasp. Where the bloody hell was she? Where was Weiss and the whole lot of Vacuo to be more specific? Jagged clefts sticking up from the black earth nearly impaled the brawler, and she scooted back some to avoid being turned into a Yang-Ka-Bob. All around her the air seemed like white water, rippling whenever she extended her palm and touched nothingness. Beside her, the walls of the thin room she was in shifted every once in a while, causing a screeching sound to emit every few seconds.
My Remnant, this place smells horrid...and that's coming from a girl who had a neighbor with five cows...Yang pinched the bridge of her nose and prayed for a better smelling dream.
Wait...was this a dream? A vision? A hallucination conjured up by fate because of her grief for Ruby? Not daring to move, the blonde decided just to see if anyone was sharing this nightmarish hell.
"Hello?" She cried out, "Is anyone there?"
No answer.
"Yang," A passive, but firm voice said.
Almost.
"What the-" Yang's eyes darted around the room in hopes of finding the voice's owner, "Who's there? What do you want?"
"Yang..." Without warning, a flash of bright, crimson light appeared before Yang, and she covered her face to block out the blinding rays. A second later, they disappeared, leaving behind a tall looking woman with a bloody red sword by her side. Yang stared in surprise.
Can people share dreams when they're asleep? Probably not. Oh, wait. Yang, focus, there's a scary masked lady with a big-ass sword right in front of you.
Right...she almost forgot about that.
"Who are you?" Yang gathered enough courage to stand up and stare the woman right in the eye...or white mask, "Why are you in my dream?"
"You believe this to be a dream?" The woman said, a hint of a mirth in her tone.
"Well, what else can it be?" Yang asked.
"So much more, Yang. It's just that your mind is often like this-" The woman gestured all around, "-when deeply afflicted or troubled."
"Um...this is my mind?"
"Yes. It's a rather...depressing place, as you can tell."
"My sister just died and you're asking me to think of happy thoughts?" Yang shook her head, "Wait a sec...lets get back to the main subject...who are you, and why are you saying this is my mind!?"
The woman slowly raised her hands and took off the mask, revealing a ghost-like complexion, raven-black hair, and scarlet eyes.
Eyes that Yang recognized.
"I'm Raven Branwen...your sister."
Somewhere Unknown
Ruby had no idea if she was dead, oddly enough.
Her legs felt dead.
Her arms felt dead.
Her mind felt dead.
So...why was she there, lying in the middle of an Byzantium field, with a crimson hole replacing where her abdomen was?
And, even more strangely, why didn't it hurt?
I wonder where Yang and Weiss are, She thought dizzily, her head still fuzzy from the recent events before, I hope they know I'm okay.
"Hello?" She cried out, "Can anyone hear me?"
Well, as long as nothing really hurts, maybe I should just get up and-
"Hey, we got ourselves a new one!"
Ruby felt her muscles immediately tense and her hand reflexively flew to the dented Crescent Rose by her side. No longer groggy, she pushed herself off the freezing ground and held her scythe in a defensive position.
"Ah, she's a fighter," The same voice said.
"W-who are you?" Ruby stuttered.
"Are you sure this is right?" Another voice said, "She looks too innocent to be entering this place."
"Death doesn't make a mistake," Another new voice said, "Well, not lately."
"She just seems so young," The other voice said, "Too little to really have done anything wrong."
"W-who are you people?" Ruby asked the darkness.
"Death knows who's wrong and who's good," The second voice said, "So she's obviously here for a reason. Hey, kid!"
Ruby jumped at the attention now placed on her, "Yes?"
"How did ya do to end up in this place?"
"Um, I don't know," Ruby said.
"See, maybe Death did make a mistake," The first voice said.
"Nah, she's just playing hard to get," The second voice argued, "But, she'll come around eventually. Everyone does down here."
"Where is 'down here', exactly?" Ruby inquired, "I got separated from my friends and the last thing I remember was a basilisk coming at me."
"Remnant, you saw an actual basilisk?" The third voice said, "That's amazing!"
"Yeah, well, I think it brought me here," Ruby said.
"Oh…"
"Ignore him, please," The first voice said, "He can be really insensitive to peoples' deaths."
"W-what?" Ruby exclaimed, "D-did you just say deaths?"
"Yeah, why? You are dead, aren't you?"
"I-I don't know!" Ruby began to breathe rapidly, and she gripped her scythe even tighter, "I just remember it coming and my sister firing an arrow and-"
"Hey, kid…relax, okay?" The second voice said sternly, "We are get jittery when we realize we're dead. But, it gets better as time goes on."
"I…"
"Shouldn't we explain to here where she is?" A new voice, this one a female, cut in.
"Ugh, fine," The first voice said, "Just make it quick. The boss doesn't like when souls are behind schedule."
"You guys just go on ahead. I'll help her get adjusted," The female volunteered. The other voices mumbled 'thanks' and 'suit yourself' before slipping away from the two girls.
"So," The new voice said in a somewhat bland tone, "You really don't know where you are? Most people who have sinned in their previous life usually can tell where they'll end up after death."
"I-I don't think I've sinned that much," Ruby tried not to stumble over her words, "I mean, there was this time I disobeyed Yang and had my uncle train me in fighting, and another time where I yelled at this mean boy in my class because he was bullying another kid, but I don't think that was technically sinning…" She stopped as a shadow-like figure dropped down at her feet, "Um…"
The figure pulled back the black hood she was wearing, revealing the same colored hair and somber eyes.
"There must be a mistake," The girl said, "I can tell you're innocent and that you're good. Death must've brought you here by accident."
"What are you talking about?" Ruby asked, tired of having to ask the same question over and over again, "And where in the name of Remnant am I?"
The shadow-girl seemed hesitant to tell the truth to the redhead, but finally relented.
"You're in Hell."
A/N: Before you say 'Raven is Yang's mom', I wanted to mix things up a bit and basically make Raven her sister. Plus, with a few chapters reserved for Ruby's mom and stuff, I just didn't want to add more parent drama. Sorry if updates have been slow recently, but as soon as March ends (as that's when all this school testing will AT LAST be done) I will be free and dancing through a meadow writing as many chapters as my heart desires.
*Slaps Self*
Ahem. Yeah, but for now expect updates to be a bit random. Also A Very Beacon Christmas is going to be cancelled because of lack of time and a case of writer's block. Seriously, I tried writing it about ten times and still didn't like the outcome :/ But, maybe next year I'll be able to repost it and try again. I hope to see you guys next chapter, where everyone will be touring the luxurious Underworld in "Chapter 10: Girl on Fire *Plays Mockingjay Theme*
Too much? Ah, screw it.
-Shadow OUT!
