Beacon City
Weiss traced the scabbing scar now blemishing her left eye as she blankly glanced towards her father, disgust and hatred darkening the light blue hue of his eyes. The tension in the room was palpable. Neither father nor daughter wanting to approach the conversation they both knew was about to occur. The only one willing to end the uncomfortable silence was Klein.
The smiling chamberlain pushed a loud squealing cart into the room, lifting the lids off of the silver platters causing the sound of metal clanging to ring across the otherwise quiet room.
Klein lifted a plate that contained a single fried egg, two slices of ham, and two slices of bread with the Princess' favorite jam, onto the table before her. The sound of porcelain plate hitting the table invoked Weiss' full attention.
"I had the chef prepare a light breakfast for you this morning m'lady, although if you would like more he is prepared to make more. Would you like more fruit juice medley?" Klein leaned in close to talk softly, "Little Snowflake his bark is worse than his bite. You'll come out of this just fine."
"If only a little physical wound, but a massive one to my pride dear Klein" Weiss whispered under her breath. She leaned back in her chair as the chamberlain fluffed out a handkerchief to lay delicately on her lap so as not to get any of her breakfast on her Schnee blue dress.
After the latest failed assassination attempt on the Princess, the King demanded that both Lady Goodwitch and Sir Oobleck's lessons be halted altogether. Which Weiss protested, only finally convincing her Father that the lessons must continue if she were to survive the many other attempts that were sure to be made on her life.
"So, Weiss today is the day, your tournament's registration begins and tomorrow we will see
who your potential guard may be. I suppose, you still are unwilling to cancel this farce of a tournament." The King shook his head disapprovingly, his condescending tone noticeably affecting his daughter. It was clear she feared him, but her will did not bend to his as once it had before not too long ago.
"Yes, Father you are correct, the tournament will continue as planned. I will not be canceling it simply because I'm damaged goods now." Weiss spat the words defiantly, the scowl upon her lips pulling harshly at her new wound. "The people should see that their future leader as strong. This scar is proof of my strength and my determination to protect the Kingdom." Her retort held conviction as she glared at her father who only narrowed his eyes at her. Klein's approach startled her as he placed his hand delicately on her shoulder.
"Are you almost ready, Princess? You have a long day planned for you before you are to make your announcement to some of the combatants that are here in the castle." Klein asked gesturing towards the door. "The day waits for no one, not even a Princess." The Chamberlain smirked, chuckling softly at his own joke.
"Alright Klein, it would seem I don't have much of an appetite right now." Weiss snapped as she threw the handkerchief onto the table and stormed out the open door, stopping for a brief moment to look out the window towards the city gates.
It wasn't unusual for there to be uproar at the city gates, whether it be a merchant upset that his goods were damaged or the random bar goers having an early brawl over the bar maiden. But what had gained the Princess' attention today was that of vibrant crimson ruby coloring of a hooded figure in the distance.
Approaching the City Gates that Same Morning
"Yang! YA- YANG!" Ruby Rose bounced around from one side of her sister to the other, her silver eyes tracing all the new sights around her. "Look I can see the City Gates now. Oh this is SOOOO EXCITING! I've never been to Beacon before but neither have you. Oh do you think there will be a lot of people entering the tournament? I hope not…." Ruby exclaims, lips twitching into a small frown, as she pausing in her step causing the hood of her cloak to flutter down behind her.
"Hey Rubes, you need to calm down. I haven't been to Beacon either but we can't have our first impression be of you being a total klutz. You know I want to make a name for myself." Throwing her arm around her sister, Yang gives her a side hug. The boots Father crafted for us are exceptional, my feet do not feel fatigued at all. Yang thinks as she shakes her boot so that the dried mud falls off the sides and top.
"Oh ye-yeah…sorry Ya-Yang, can you please let me go now? Yo-you're kinda crushin' me…" the brunette tried to wiggle out of her sister's death grip. Feeling her sister loosening her grip, the energetic young woman shakes her head and fixes her hood. "Yang, do you think we will be ok? I mean the tournament will have strong, battle toughened competitors. Fighting the Grimm is one thing but fighting another person…. I am not sure how I will hold up." Ruby sighs as she kicks the gravel around her boots.
"Don't worry Rubes, I'll be there and we can do it together. Besides," Yang smirks, "If any of these men give you any trouble, I'll beat 'em to a pulp."
Ruby looks up at her sister and giggles as she dances around her throwing punches at imaginary enemies. "Thanks Yang. You're right at least will be together. I know you would never let anyone hurt me as long as you're around." Ruby drops her knapsack and hugs her sister tight. Yang brings up one arm and pats the girl on the back.
"Come on now Ruby. No more mushy stuff. Let's get into Beacon and see what the city has to offer!" Yang shouts as a horse flies between the two women nearly tramples Yang. "HEY, watch where you're going…" Yang shakes her fist as the rider gallops away, something about the ironclad rider seems familiar but she just shrugs it off. As they ride away the polished bird sticks out in both women's mind.
"That was close." Ruby squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. Before going to pick up her knapsack and follows her sister towards the grey stone walls with moss covering parts of the outer wall. The once distant noise of the City Gates now has become an uproar as the two draw closer to the enormous walls with soldiers standing guard.
Horses and carriage squeeze in between the dozens of pedestrians as hundreds of people walk with them into Beacon city, the capital of Staub Kingdom,. The claps of hooves and chatter of the people make the gates deafening for the younger sister. Ruby claps her hands over her ears to quiet the noise even just a little bit. The young woman stops dead in her tracks and goes off to the side trying to find a quieter area. As her older sister, Yang continues to walk into the inside of Beacon awestruck.
"Wow, there are so many people here. Ruby can you believe it? We really made it to Beacon." Yang shouts over her shoulder, and quickly turns on her heels. "Rubes? Ruby!Ahhh! Not again!" Frantically scanning the masses of people for any signs of her crimson clad sister, Yang begins to push her way through the crowd.
"RUBY! RUBY! Where are you?!" Out of the corner of her eye Yang sees a dingy red cloak sat atop a stool just past the gates. Throwing several people out of her way as Yang tries to keep the red cloak in her line of sight just in case Ruby decides to get up.
What is she doing at a… what even is this building? Yang takes a quick glance at the sign that hung above the small building. A Traven! Ruby wouldn't be drinking. I mean she could be waiting knowing I would go to a Traven...at some point. At least I found her.
"Ruby you really can't run off like you usually do, this isn't Patch, if we get separated I may not find you again…" Yang says as a sigh of relief escapes her lips, slinging her arm around the red hooded person.
While trying to wriggle out of the blonde's death grip a deep voice responses. "I think you may have the wrong person."
"OH! You're not my sister!" Yang exclaims as she drops the man with a loud thud. "Ooooo sorry about that but I have to run." The blonde shouts blowing the man a kiss before jogging back to the gates to find her sister.
Hidden within the crowds of people around the gate, the young crimson clad woman finally gets acclimated to the noise level. It is so loud here. I mean Yang is loud but this is a completely different kind of loud. Yang….YANG… Ruby realizes that she just wandered away from her sister without saying a word to her. I lost her. I gotta find Yang, gotta find YANG!
"Yang! YANG!" Ruby yells as she soon realizes that her yells are not loud enough for anyone to hear her outside of the people within close proximity. Yang will find me. She always finds me….
Ruby saunters through the crowd, hoping that her older sister will spot her soon. Yang where are you? I am beginning to think I might be stuck here… alone. I just have to stay near the gates, Yang will circle back around if she can't find me…I hope. The brunette drifts around the city gates as the seemingly faceless crowds of people enter and exit the city. Ruby feels desperation start to creep in as it seems like she has been wandering for hours. Yang will find me. She always finds me…. Ruby begins to ring her hands.
Turning towards the city once more, she continues to wait for her sister to come find her. Ruby hears loud babbling and as she turns around to see who it is. She is knocked down, landing almost face first onto the hardened ground, rocks and wood squish against her face and bare hands.
"NORA! Nora! I told you not to skip backwards especially near the city gates." Someone calls towards Ruby from a distance.
Ugh what happened? Ruby blinks a few times realizing she is on the floor. Who is Nora? Did someone fall on me? Ruby wonders still squished under who she guessed was Nora. With the weight of her knapsack and the now added weight of this Nora person sitting on top of her scythe, Ruby feels her spine is slowly being ground into a fine powder..
"I hate to interrupt…. but can you get off me please?" Ruby moans in pain as she tries to shift any of the weight off her spine and ease her suffering.
"Oh my gosh! Are you ok down there? I was just so excited about finally making to Beacon City that I forgot that there were are other people around. And that you are still under me…" A chipper and excited voice says just above the brunette girl. Ruby fidgets nervously as she feels the eyes of every passerby glance over.
"Yeah... I am ok. Do you think you can get off of me though? The ground is not as comfortable as it looks." Ruby nervously replied as she picks a twig off her face and tosses it to the side.
"Right! Let me just hop off, that way I can apologize properly." The chipper girl exclaimed and jumps off Ruby. The sudden downward force of the woman getting off Ruby causes her to groan loudly in pain. Ruby hears rapid footsteps run towards them and sees an unusual pair of shoes stop beside her.
"Nora, are they ok? How hard did you hit them?" Though the questioned would normally invoke some sort of emotion while speaking, the voice asking them was empty. Ruby took this opportunity to try to get up and back to looking for Yang but gets caught in a side hug thanks to Nora.
"Yes, Ren. I just finished asking her and she is fine. Nothing to worry about." Nora says as she pats Ruby's back.
"Umph…I am fine. The name is Ruby, Ruby Rose. Nice to meet you Nora and…." Ruby almost mumbles as she brushes the debris off her face and hands.
"How did you know my NAME?! Are you a witch? Can you tell my fortune?" The woman exclaims as she spins around in her short pink skirt.
Ruby tilts her head as the woman continues to skip around her and the tall dark haired man who is shaking his head in disappointment.
"Nora? NORA!" The man tries to get her attention to no avail. He sighs and turns towards Ruby. "I am sorry about her, she is 'excitable'. My name is Lie Ren. But I prefer Ren." His long black hair falls off to the sides of a dull jade green outfit. He bows slightly; suddenly Nora launches herself off of his back towards Ruby.
Oh no no no Not again Ruby quickly tries to dive out of the way only to have Nora land on her back once more.
"So Ms. Ruby Rose, how did you know my name?" Nora questions the defeated girl under her.
"I…I'll tell you as soon as you get off me…" Ruby groans feeling her scythe digging deeper into her spine.
"Nora! Get off Ms. Rose." Ren raised his voice as he watches Nora once again get off the small brunette girl. He offers Ruby a hand up and dusts off her crimson cloak.
"Thanks..ah... Ren. I knew your name Nora, because I heard Ren shouting it at you when you fell on me the first time." Ruby explains watching Nora, whose crossed arms fell to her side. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be eavesdropping but he was yelling quite loud." The small brunette squeals in fear, squeezing her eyes shut. I wish Yang were here….
"RUBY! Ruby is that you? Oh please be you and not some random guy again." Yang exclaims as she runs towards her sister.
"YANG! YANG! Thank the goddess you found me. I was so scared without you." Ruby sighs, relieved that her sister was here. Throwing her arms around Yang, Ruby feels more at ease. Yang quickly eyes the two standing near Ruby and notices she has a few indentations of twigs and rocks. A flash of when Ruby was bullied in Patch causes Yang to push her sister behind her.
"Are these two giving you trouble Ruby?" Yang cracks her knuckles and neck getting ready to defend her baby sister.
"Uh… I think there may be a misunderstanding." Ren says calmly. Nora pushes her way in front of Ren.
"I don't see any trouble unless you want to make some Blondie." Nora retorts as she cracks her knuckles and rolls her shoulders causing them to crack as well.
Yang's eyes grow wide and smirk creeped across her face. This girl has no idea what she is in for. All three women and Ren all think simultaneously
"You sure you want to do this shortie." Yang snorts looking down at the orange haired girl.
"Oh you have no idea how long I have been waiting to do this!" Nora snorts back and hacks a loogie off to her side.
"Eww!" Ruby shivers as she watches passersby step in it. Ren also makes a disgusted face and shakes his face in disappointment.
Nora and Yang circle each other slowly drifting away from Ruby and Ren, who both carefully watch their respective companion.
"Come on you two; let's not make this into a big deal or anything. Please." Ruby pleads seeing that Yang isn't going to back down without a fight.
"Yes, that is an excellent idea Ruby, Nora come now, let's be civil about this." Ren says calmly holding his hands out towards her.
Ruby draw closer to the two brooding women; just before reaching them a carriage barrels between the four of them.
"Look out!" Ren says loudly as he yanks Ruby away from the speeding carriage by the collar of her cloak.
Ruby's arms fling in front of her as she tries to balance herself while narrowly avoiding the carriage thanks to Ren's quick thinking. "Thanks." She says while turning towards Ren, shaking off her cloak.
Both Ren and Ruby take a moment to collect themselves and turn back to the two brooding women and notice that they suddenly have a table between them and their arms locked together.
"Where did that table come from?!" Ren and Ruby question loudly as they quickly gather around the table. Yang and Nora have managed to get a table just tall enough for them to start arm wrestling and were now locked in a stalemate. Both straining to move even the slightest but the other would not allow it.
"Nora's pretty strong, considering she is stopping Yang from just winning. You know she is known to be the strongest person in Patch, no one has ever lasted more than the five seconds against her in an arm wrestling match." Ruby says proudly as she watches sweat bead up around her sister's brow.
"Yes, Nora is very strong. On occasion she has been known to supplement our coin purses with her arm wrestling wins from taverns." Ren adds as he notices that both women are beginning to sweat from the sheer excursion of strength.
"You're not half bad there girlie." Yang huffs as she feels the table breaking under the grip of her left hand.
"Same to you Blondie, there aren't many people who can last this long against me. I am impressed." Nora blurts with a smile.
"Guys I don't think this table can last much longer." Ren points out as the table the two brutally strong women are using is splintering due to their sheer strength.
"Yang I think it's time to call a draw? We have to go register for the tournament…." Ruby utters and quickly shoots her hands up to cover her mouth.
Dangit! Why did I mention the tournament?! They will probably laugh at us or call us names how could two girls sign up for that…. Maybe they have no idea what tournament I am talking about…. Oh who am I kidding this is the biggest tournament happening on the continent of Atlas ever. People from all over Remnant are coming here for it. Ruby shakes her head as her thoughts flood her mind.
"YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR THE TOURNAMENT TOO?!" Nora loses focus as she shouts, this gives Yang the edge and she slams Nora's arm into the rickety table causing it to explode into splinters.
Nora, Ren and Ruby watch, mouths gaping open and eyes wide with shock, as Yang jumps up and down.
"Nailed it. Ruby did you see that…what are you guys staring at?" Yang asks as she shakes the wood chips off her arm. "Hey, Nora was it?" Yang extends her hand out towards the defeated and partially shocked woman.
"DID YOU SEE THAT TABLE?! IT WAS LIKE BOUSH…" Nora waves her hands around. "Oh and yes, it was a pleasure to finally meet another badass woman." She exclaims as she shakes Yang's hand vigorously.
"You're here for the Royal Tournament as well?" Ren asks Ruby who immediately becomes nervous.
"Well… you see…wait did you say as well? Nora you are entering the tournament?" Ruby inquires.
"Well of course! With Ren by my side there's no way, we won't be chosen to be the WINNERS!" Nora shimmies and shakes.
"This tournament isn't about winning Nora." Yang mentions as she brushes a few splinters out of her hair. "The tournament is for Princess Weiss to choose her Royal Guard, you know kind of like we are fighting to get lifetime careers as her baby-sitters and personal bodyguards." The blonde woman groans at the idea of having to be cooped up in the castle for the rest of her days.
"Ignore her. Being chosen to be a Knight, what more can we ask for?!" Ruby pushes her way in front of her less-than-enthusiastic sister towards Ren and Nora, her eyes full of wonder and glee as she marvels at the idea of the tournament. "I mean, how genius of the Princess to allow anyone to be in the tournament no matter their status? I mean sure she probably has many great candidates to choose from in the castle, but now best fighters from around Remnant will be here. Princess Weiss will have the most well rounded, most fierce guard of all the Royal families anywhere in all of Remnant." Ruby shouts than quickly sinks into herself realizing she is in public.
Nora and Ren both glance at each other, and simultaneously say. "Well someone is excited."
"You could say that. Anyway mind not mentioning to anyone we are entering. We are not sure how well the Schnee's will take to find women competing in this tournament. You are so brave Nora to enter as is." Ruby shyly says as she gathers her belongings and motions to Yang to do the same.
"Of course what are friends for?" Nora says patting Ruby's back and nods to Yang.
"How do you guys plan on registering without revealing your genders?" Ren asks before saying his goodbyes. After asking he hears some clanking and rustling as both Yang and Ruby pull out two beautifully crafted helmets.
"Yeah we are gonna register in our armor, and just write anything we have to down ourselves. Just avoid talking as much as possible." Yang says fairly audible considering she placed her helmet on. Removing the helmet quickly and placing it back in her bag so is to not draw too much attention to them.
"Hellooo~" Someone says singingly behind the newly formed group of friends. The four friends turn to see a red headed girl waving at them. She has a bronze circlet just beneath her hair, what looks to be Roman styled armored skirt and bronze greaves and very well made leather bound boots.
"Sorry but have you seen a table lying around? It would seem that the one I had strapped to my carriage has fallen off." The redhead explains as the four friends huddle together to try to hide the pile of wooden debris on the ground.
"Well you see…" Yang starts to say rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"IT FELL RIGHT OFF YOUR CARRIAGE AND SHATTERED INTO MILLIONS OF SMITHEREENS!" Nora jumped in and shouted, the redhead's eyes widen in shock.
"Sorry about that. How unfortunate. I thought that I strapped it down very well to the wagon." The woman mumbles as she examines the completely destroyed table.
"Excuse me…" Ruby started to ask as her eyes begin to gleam with excitement. "But are you Pyrrha Nikos from Sanctum, capital of Mistral?"
"Why yes, yes I am. Sorry~. Allow me to introduce myself. Pyrrha Nikos of Sanctum and you are…" Pyrrha motioned her hand towards Ruby waiting for her name but she is star struck and can barely speak.
"This adorably frozen girl is my sister Ruby, and I am Yang." Yang gave Pyrrha a smile as she slings her arm around her sister which snaps her back to reality.
"Uh yeah. I am Ruby. It is a great honor to meet you Ms. Nikos." Ruby wriggles out of Yang's side hug and bows towards Pyrrha.
"No need to bow. Please just Pyrrha." Pyrrha gently pats Ruby on back, letting her know there is no need for such formalities. "And you are?" Pyrrha turns towards Ren and Nora.
"I am Ren and this is…" Ren starts and motions to Nora.
"NORA!" She says as she flings herself into a hug with Pyrrha. "It's great to meet you." The two women tumble to the ground from the force of Nora trying to hug the red haired woman,
Pyrrha pats Nora on the head as Ren helps her up. "Sorry about her behavior, she is excitable."
"No worries. Sadly I must get going I have to enter in the tournament. I was lovely to meet you all. Farewell and safe travels." Pyrrha waves as she steps into her carriage that is just a short distance away.
Oh man. PYRRHA NIKOS is entering the tournament. I don't stand a chance. Ruby ruffles her own hair feeling anxious as ever.
"Rubes you ok?" Yang tilts her head in concern.
"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY PEASANTS!" A man shouts from atop a cinnamon colored stallion. The horse rears its front hooves and pounds them on the ground as the man glares at the four friends. "Move that child out of the way before she is killed, this is no place for a girl so fragile." He points towards Ruby mockingly.
"Oh..uhh…. sorry…" Ruby mumbles as backs away from the agitated man.
"Hey you should get that horse of yours under control there are civilians here!" Yang's eyebrows furrow as she yells at the man and pushes Ruby behind her.
The man jumps off his stead landing with a loud crunch as his boots crush small clumps of dirt and dried leafs. "What needs controlling are your manners! How dare you talk to me in such a way?! Do you know who I am?" He shouts at Yang, but she doesn't immediately kick his teeth in because Ruby is clinging to her side. Yang growls at the man while Ruby pulls on her to leave him alone.
"Hey that's no way to talk to a Lady." Nora got in front of Yang and Ruby, Ren goes to comfort Ruby.
"I am Cardin Winchester. Son of Charles Winchester, Captain of His Royal Highness' personal guard. I am destined to follow in my father's footsteps and not a mere peasant, especially not a woman, shall speak to me in such a way." Cardin scoffed, his right arm gesturing arrogantly to himself, the crooked smile dipping into a scowl as he glanced at the group before him.
Nora chuckled and swiped her hand across her mouth. "I didn't want to do this but….." Suddenly an enormous hammer sails through the air towards Cardin. He instinctively hopped back as the hammer barely missed his "family jewels".
"Playing dirty I see." Cardin chuckled as he unclipped a battle axe with eight symmetric edges that circle around the top.
"If I wanted to hit you, I would have hit you. Kind of like…" With a mischievous smile Nora flicked her wrist upward hitting Cardin in the calves causing him to kneel before her. "Oh well thank you thank you. I know I am Queen of the Castle~." She makes her hammer look like lifting a feather, luckily for Cardin she only hit his greaves but it was hard enough to dent them.
Clank Cardin's battle axe falls next to him. "What?! How did you? What kind of weapon is that?!" Cardin shouts as he points at Nora's hammer. "That was a lucky hit." He mumbles as he gets up, grabbing his axe and backs away from Nora slightly.
"Luck had nothing to do with it. She is just a better fighter than you." Yang yells with a much calmer Ruby next to her.
"Kick his butt Nora!" Ruby exclaimed throwing her fists in the air.
"Nora, please. Hurry if we still have to register for the tournament." Ren states calmly.
"Fighting outside of the tournament, how unsightly of you, Cardin." A man's voice booms from atop a dark stallion, the Schnee crest promptly displayed across his chestplate.
"Father, I…this is not what it looks like." Cardin quickly places his battle axe back on his belt.
"It looks to me as if this woman has bested you in combat and made you grovel at her feet. And in front of a crowd nonetheless, you dishonor the Winchester name." The man says coldly as he taps the sides of his horse to have it continue walking slowly along the road.
Huh that voice where have I heard it before? Ruby scratches her head trying to place the voice.
Cardin looks to the side as the man pass him slowly. "Don't disgrace me like this at the tournament. Else you shall be a Winchester no more, you hear me boy." The man huffs in annoyance towards Cardin.
"Of course not I will make you proud Fat…uhh Sir Winchester." Cardin says as he salutes the Knight.
Nora, Ren, Yang and Ruby watch the exchange with curious eyes and mouths half open. What kind of man makes their own children refer to them by rank…Yang and Ruby ponder as they watch the Knight ride towards the castle.
"I will destroy you in the tournament!" Cardin shouts at Nora, fury in his eyes as he climbs back atop his stead. She simply smirks than sticks her tongue out while using her finger to pull down her lower eyelid.
"Come on Nora. Let's go to the registration area." Ren calmly reassures Nora by placing his hand on her shoulder. This causes her to turn sharply around.
"Yeah, you're right Ren. Let's go sign in so I can KICK HIS BUTT!" Nora shouts as she ran towards the center of Beacon.
"So… That happened?" Ruby questioned her sister before feeling a warm presence invade her space.
Suddenly Nora reappeared over the two sister's shoulders causing both girls to jump. "We forgot to say goodbye! Right Ren!" Nora's bolsterious voice rung in their ears. She grabbed a hold of Ren's arm, shaking him back and forth with a manic smile.
"I guess we will be seeing you guys later." Ren waved as he disappeared into the crowd being pulled along by a now cheerfully waving, skipping away Nora.
"Bye, and yeah see you….later…" Ruby shouts at the quickly dissipating dust cloud.
"Come on Rubes we have to go get ready if we want to go register as well." Yang coughed as she dusted off her sister. Ruby wiggled her body and shook her hood out.
"Yeah I am sure we will find an inn nearby we can get a room in while the tournament is underway." Ruby gleamed as they canter towards the nearest inn, only to see a "No Vacancy" sign hanging from the door.
"Or not…" Yang exhaled in defeat.
"How can every single inn in Beacon be filled to the brim!? I mean sure there are more inns somewhere around here." Ruby said hopefully, her voice dipping into a whisper as she sees a crowd of armor clad boys walking towards the outskirts of town and overhears one of them.
"I hear all the inns are full of Nobility who want to enter the tournament but couldn't get a room at the castle." A blond man said, a monkey tail swaying behind him.
"I heard that as well. Even sons of current guard members aren't allowed to stay in the castle. Good thing there is plenty of space to camp out just outside the city." A red headed man spoke softly as his fox ears twitch with every sound. The two men pass without noticing Ruby or Yang eavesdropping.
"Yang sounds like we will be camping out like the good old times." Ruby said with a slight smile.
"That sounds…wonderful." The blonde woman is less than enthusiastic about the idea of sleeping on the ground for another few days. "Let's set up camp after we register, we just need to get into our armor to register than we can find a nice area to call home for the next few days? How's that sound?" Yang ruffles Ruby's hair as she looks in the distance where she believes the registration is being held.
"Yeah that sounds like a plan….but….uh…where are we going to change into our armor?" Ruby questioned, glancing around inconspicuously. It appeared that Beacon seems to be filled to the absolute brim with people, and not all of them looked like very nice characters.
"Well we could just change in a dark, empty, not at all creepy alleyway." Yang joked, a devilish smile pulling at her lips.
"Yang! We can't do that! Someone might see us." Ruby blushed, nudging the tip of her left boot into the dirt.
Yang punched her sister in the shoulder jokingly. "Come on, Rubes. We don't have to take our clothes off. Just have to slip into our armor."
"I guess that can work, do you mind holding my cloak while I get into my armor." Ruby sighed knowing she can't win an argument with her sister.
"Of course Rubes, now hurry and follow me." Yang pulled her sister into the first desolate alleyway she could find. "Ok, you can armor up first. I will keep watch and make sure no one sees you indecent." Yang smiles brightly as she drops her knapsacks next to her sister and places her sister's cloak on a nail nearby. Yang jogs up to the end of the alleyway and leans against the wall. With a quick glance up and down the road Yang shoots Ruby a thumbs up.
Ruby nods back to her sister and starts removing her boots and putting her crimson greaves on as well as armored pants. Right as she was about to slip into her chest plate, Ruby hears a bottle roll and gravel crunch nearby. "AHHH! Who's there?!" Ruby screams at a shadow that darts behind a pile of rubbish.
"Ruby are you ok?!" Yang rushed over and clasped her sister's shoulders. As Ruby pointed to the rubbish pile, she slowly reached for her scythe. "No Rubes. Don't dirty your weapon on this insect. I can squish it with my bare hands." Yang approached with the sound of bones cracking as she loosens up for a fight.
Ruby heard the screams of a man, loud thuds, then silence and the sound of a body hitting the floor. "Uhhh Yang? YANG! Everything alright over there?" Ruby worriedly questions.
Looking into the dark corner Ruby can see a shadow coming towards her, scythe in hand she is ready to strike when her sister emerges from the shadows. Relief fills Ruby as she leans her scythe against the wall next to her.
"Don't worry they won't be bothering anyone for a while. Now hurry up Rubes, I have to get all dolled up as well. You know it takes more than a few minutes to get my perfect hair packed into that tiny helmet." Yang mumbles the last part as she walks past Ruby.
As Ruby finished putting her helmet on, the last and most important part of her armor at least to her, was yet to be worn. She reaches over to a nail that was perfectly placed so that she could hang her cloak without worrying about it touching the grimy floor and removes her cloak and with one swift motion she wraps the worn crimson fabric around her armor clasping it in place with two crosses her father placed on both her shoulders just for her cloak to sit perfectly.
Ruby held her scythe in one hand and gathers her belongings with the other. With her knapsack on her shoulder and scythe in tow, she taps Yang on the shoulder and nods towards the alleyway.
"Wow, sorry young man I was looking for my sister have you seen her? Just jesting with you that armor hides your curves very well Rubes." Yang shouts at her sister as she goes into the alleyway. "Hope my armor can hide these curves." Yang jokes while runs her hands down her sides.
"Just get ready over there. It will be nightfall soon and the registration is only open for today!" Ruby shouts through her helmet.
"Yeah, yeah. We will be there with plenty of time dear sister." Yang shouts back as she slides into her chest plate after getting her greaves and gauntlets on. "No matter how many times I put this damn thing it always feels as if it is shrinking." Heaving and huffing the amply bosomed woman compresses her assets into the corset like chest plate.
Once all of her armor is on, Yang cracks her neck and knuckles and rotates her shoulders making sure her armor is well oiled and ready for combat. Once she feels her armor is up to her standards, the woman emerges from the alleyway. Clunk Yang places her hand on Ruby's shoulder and she nods in response.
Walking towards the registration tent in town square, the girls experience something not completely unfamiliar to them both. Whispers and stares, not only of suspicion but some were intrigued. Not only are the two woman clad in colors not normally used in battle they had odd choices in weaponry.
"Mommy that knight isn't holding any weapons and I don't see any on their waist. Are they going to get one?" A child asks while tugging on their mother's skirt. Yang overheard the child but continues walking past them.
Ruby places her hand on Yang's shoulder. "Yang you don't need a traditional weapon to be a Knight. You have always been my hero ever since we were little." Ruby says proudly, her words cheer Yang up. More like fire her up as she picks up the pace and may have knocked over a few of her future competitors on the way to the registration tent.
One of the victims of Yang's excitement gets up angrily. "Hey! Watch where you're going! The fighting doesn't start until tomorrow and I will be gunning for you." Yang simply blows the angry man a kiss and waves goodbye as Ruby drags her sister with her into the tent.
"Are you two here to register for the Royal Tournament?" The middle aged woman asked the oddly colored pair before her.
Ruby and Yang turn to each other and back to the woman nodding their heads. The woman scratched the back of her head. "Right than what is your name?" She asked pointing at Yang who simply took the parchment out of the woman's hands and snatched her quill as well and wrote Yang Xiao Long fairly large on it. Yang handed the woman the parchment back and stuck the quill in the nearby ink vial while standing confidently.
"Xiao Long. That name seems familiar. Are you related to Taiyang Xiao Long, Legendary Blacksmith and Former Captain of Royal Guard of Patch?" The woman excitedly asked. Both girls begin shaking their heads in opposite ways Yang nodding in agreement with the statement and Ruby trying to deny it.
"Wow I didn't know Taiyang had any sons… Well anyway here is your brooch, it will allow you entry into the pits before the tournament starts. Meet at Schnee arena at dawn tomorrow." The woman says inquisitively.
The woman points to Ruby and asks. "And what is your name?" Ruby motioned towards the parchment gesturing that she too would like to write her name down. The woman laughed. "Are you two mute? Well I suppose in battle there's not much need for speaking. Here you go." Handing over the parchment to Ruby as well the freshly inked quill, who promptly scribbles Ruby Rose, than hands the paper back to the woman behind the large oak table. "Hmm, let's see who we have here, Ruby Rose that's quite an odd name for a Knight but who am I to judge? This tournament welcomes all who have armor and a desire to fight. Now then, did you hear what I told your travel companion here about this brooch and the time to come back?" She asks towards the crimson Knight who nods eagerly. "Ok great see you both tomorrow and may the Gods smile on you at the tournament tomorrow." She waves off the two warriors and waves in the next competitor in. The man purposely slams his shoulder into Yang as he enters causing her to growl, but she continues to follow Ruby out.
"That guy is one piece of bull…" Ruby stops Yang from finishing her description of the foul man. Yang huffs at Ruby. "What you know he is!"
"Tomorrow you will be able to beat him to a pulp but right now we need to find a place to change then find a place to camp for the next few nights." Ruby pouts as she crosses her arms.
"You're right…" Yang sighs defeated. "Let's just set up camp with our armor on, we can change out at camp. Most of our 'competition' is so self-absorbed they won't notice that two guys set up camp but two girls emerge especially if we set up camp little ways from them." Yang suggests as she walks towards the City gates with her hands behind her helmet.
"I guess that could work." Ruby reluctantly agreed as she pinned her brooch to her cloak. She squeals as she runs her fingers over the brooch. It's really happening! All I have to do is show the Princess that I can be a worth Knight! For you Mother, I will not let you down. Ruby makes a fist and nods to herself for a brief moment before catching up with her golden clad sister who is nearing the City gates. Ruby sprints and to the surprise of many of the onlookers, the crimson clad person weaves in and out of the crowds with ease and with barely a sound.
But one person hears the girl approaching. Yang quickly shifts her weight and grabs the crimson armored girl. "Gotcha! Now then do you think you can keep up or at least stay next to me?" Yang jokingly gives her sister a pat on the shoulder.
"I can more than keep up…." Ruby pouts as she dashes towards an empty clearing in a meadow just outside the City gates.
"Rubes! Wait up…." Yang calls out with an outstretched hand. "Uh why do I even bother?" She sighs to herself and readjusts her knapsack on her shoulder trudging along towards her sister.
"Over here Yang this is the perfect spot for us to camp. Close to the City gates, not too close to the other combatants." Ruby shouts as Yang approaches the flat clearing surrounded by flowers and a few weeds here and there.
"Hey Yang mind if I gather the firewood while you set up camp? Last time I set up my tent it blew away…while I was sleeping….in the rain…" Ruby mumbles as she starts to shiver remembering that horrid night.
"Yes Rubes I remember that night no worries, I'll have our new home away from home away from Beacon set up in no time at all." Yang shouts as she drops her knapsack on the ground and starts to rummage through Ruby's knapsack. "Just hurry back Rubes and try not to scratch up your armor too much. You will be buffing it for hours considering how much you love it." Yang turns to see that Ruby is already at the edge of the tree line her cloak flaps in the wind behind her.
Ruby happily gathers some dry kindling which she promptly stuffs into her side satchel. Soon Ruby's arms held more logs and twigs than she thought was possible, thanks to her armored arms there was not annoying poking or log burns on her forearms. "Hey, Yang do you think this is enough wood to last at least the night?" She says as she unloads her arms next to the fire pit Yang had made at the center of their new home.
Yang pokes her head out from the side of her tent. "Hmm looks like it should be go ahead and start the fire Rubes." After a few taps on a wooden stack that is used to hold her tent sturdy, Yang stands up and reveals she is no longer in her armor.
"Yang you had time to get out of your armor and set up camp…was I really gone for that long." Ruby wonders as she pushes her cloak out of her way and takes a small wad of kindling out from her satchel. Making a little nest out of the kindling, Ruby begins to create a small box around the kindling. There once lit this should burn nice and long, hopefully keeping any Grimm away from here. Ruby smiles knowing that at least for the next few days there is no need to worry about the Grimm. She can focus on achieving her dream of becoming a Knight.
"Hey, Rubes you should maybe get comfortable. I don't want any of the guys around to think you're protecting me or worst my boyfriend!" Yang exclaims as shoos Ruby away and crouches by the prepped firewood and strikes her flint and steel together. Ruby scoffs at her sister's remark. In the once empty fire pit now ablaze with a roaring fire, Yang sets a small stew pot on top of the roaring fire using two sticks to stabilize it and begins pouring water and various ingredients into the pot.
Ruby goes into her tent and removes her armor carefully and gives it a quick wipe down with a special polishing rag her father had given her before she left. Of course Yang is worried that someone will think she is taken…She is so self-centered why did she even come with me here? I would have been fine on my own…probably.
The smell of stew fills Ruby's tent drawing her out, as she pushed the tent flap out of her way she notices that the sun is squeals as she ladles herself a cup full of stew and caresses her brooch. "Hey Yang do you think about Nora and Pyrrha fighting in the tournament?"
"It will be interesting to see other women fighting. Though I don't think they will be hiding their gender like we are." Yang groans at the thought of having to wear her cramped chestplate.
"Why do you think Father wants us to hide our gender?" Ruby questions as she takes a sip of stew. "I suppose Father has his reasons. I am so excited about tomorrow Yang! I can't believe it still."
"Yes I know Rubes, but for tonight you can just be excited that we made it to Beacon? And that we are registered officially for the tournament we have been training for the last few weeks now." Yang says holding her cup that is full of stew up. "Cheers to us sis, we made it!" Clanking their mugs together the two women eat and discuss their plans and hopes for the day to come before going to bed.
Before slipping into a deep slumber one last thought crosses Ruby's mind. I wonder what the Princess is like?
~ ,. Back at the Castle., ~
"Klein I am retiring to my room for the evening. Please inform my Father and his Guests that I shall not be attending his absurd display of a feast tonight. I am quite drained from talking to all those 'potential' guard members today." Weiss exhaled as she began walking towards her room.
"As you wish, Princess, and here is a copy of the register's list of entries for tomorrow's tournament. Your tournament. As per your request." Klein smiled as he handed the Princess a piece of parchment.
"That will be all for today, Klein." Weiss waved her hand and entered her room. While her maids helped their Princess into her nightgown, she stared out the window to see dozens of small campfires littering the outside edge of the City Gates. Must not have been enough rooms in the local inns for all who wished to participate in the tournament, even with Father housing his top picks here in the Castle. Weiss glanced over the parchment that Klein had handed her, Of course the first half is all Nobility, and family of such, hmm here's an interesting name, Ruby Rose of patch.
Noticing her maids just standing around Weiss dismissed them for the evening. "I suppose I should be off to bed as well. Tomorrow is the big day." Weiss yawned as she climbs into her goose feather stuffed mattress and drifted to off into a dreamless sleep.
-*,.Around the City of Beacon.,*-
Ruby drifted to sleep snuggled into her crimson cloak a smile across her face. Yang snored loudly as ever she had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit her pillow, sprawled out across her open sleeping bag. The soft grass made a welcomed mattress to the hard ground. Ren soundly slept, though in the bed right next to him Nora seems to be wrestling an Ursa in her sleep. Her fists failing and legs wildly kicking would keep any other person awake all night.
-,.Miles away from Beacon.,-
Covered by a black cloak, flowing in the wind digging her heels into the sides of her steed she rides towards Beacon. Orders from the leader of the White Fang, written in a tightly sealed scroll kept close to her in a pouch that sits on her hip. Blake rides non-stop towards the city. Though their first attempt to end the Schnee line has failed, Blake believed that these orders will finally give the Faunus their rightful place in the Kingdom.
A/N Hello there! Thanks for everyone's continuous support. I am happy to announce that my story has a Co-Writer who is helping me out now. ^,.,^ Big thanks to Weiss_Schnee_is _my _Goddess (aka co-writer & bestie). As usual feel free to leave a comment, favorite or just follow the story if you haven't already. And for those of you have thank you so much for everything means the world to me. See you after the next chapter. Also sorry about the late post had a lot going on last few weeks.