There was an unusual change in the temperature that night. The normally warm climate had dropped to an icy one. Plants had begun to freeze over as a cold breeze blew through the forest. These sudden changes were all being caused by a single woman as she walked through the forest by herself. Every step she took would cause the grass to freeze over as a cold wind blew behind her.
The woman wore a white dress that touched the very surface she walked on. She had an alluring yet cautious way in which she carried herself. Head hung low and covered with a white veil, she walked until she reached a large apple tree.
"Go away…" the woman whispered to herself. "Go away...how could she say that?"
The woman lifted the veil off her head and frowned. Her long white hair was pulled back in a ponytail, exposing her aged and worried face.
"Why would she say that to me?" Weiss said softly. "We've always helped each other out. That's why we're a team."
Weiss lowered her head some more and eyed the path of flowers planted in front of the trees. There was a patch of red roses, a patch of white roses, a patch of Amaryllis Belladonna , and a patch of buttercup flowers. They were all next to each other and staying together, despite the climate changes that came throughout the years.
Weiss stared at the patch of flowers for a long time while saying nothing. A strong breeze picked up behind her before dying down just as fast.
"She couldn't have meant that" said Weiss through a strained voice. "This team always meant a lot to her. Team RWBY is more than just a huntress team...we're a family."
Weiss looked one more time at the patch of flowers. Something about them always eased her worries and fears. It was at this location that she could bring out emotions that were normally bottled up.
"Please be okay, Ruby" said Weiss. She felt something wet gently fall on her hand while saying this.
I think I would have stayed unconscious if I hadn't felt a sharp sting on my cheek.
"Ow!" I said hoarsely. There was something off. I could feel my entire throat tremble as I spoke and it wasn't comfortable.
"Shhh!" Someone said as they placed a finger on my lips.
"Can you be quiet for even a moment?" asked the person. My eyes opened very slowly and then took some time to focus. When my vision finally came through, Weiss Schnee was standing right above me.
"Wei-!" I shouted before she put both her hands over my mouth.
"SHUT UP!" She whispered loudly. "Do you know how difficult it was for me to carry you back here with all those Grimm out there?"
"G...Grimm…?"
"Yes," said Weiss impatiently. "This place is crawling with Grimm. I haven't been able to find anybody else. Not Ironwood, Ozpin, Beacon students, or even that goofy faunus from Haven. Nothing! And now I'm here in a ditch with you looking like a corpse! I'm aware that I'm usually the one who keeps things in place, but even this is too much for me to handle!"
Weiss was speaking so fast that I could only understand every other word she said. The only part that stood out to me was the mention of me looking like a corpse. I weakly moved my head to see what she meant and almost fainted from what I saw. My arms and hands were so thin that I could see the bones almost bulging from their skin. My veins were bulging as well. I didn't even want to know what my face looked like.
"Penny…." I said weakly.
"What?" asked Weiss.
"Penny!" I said in a croaky voice.
Weiss's frown turned into a deep grimace.
"The girl…" she said, turning her eyes away from me.
I tried to nod my head but it ended up looking more like a weird attempt to move my head up.
"Ruby," said Weiss with one deep breath, "I have something to tell you and you aren't going to like it."
"What?" I asked, fearing the worst.
"Your friend...she's….how do I say this? She's a robot."
The fear I felt completely disappeared at that moment.
"I know," I said.
"What?"
"I. Know."
Weiss blinked a couple times and stared at me, dumbfounded.
"Wha-I just-how-when did-?"
"Where...is...she?" I asked. Everything I said took too much effort to say and I had to take a deep breath almost every time.
"Weiss stopped muttering and looked down at me with a frown.
"There," she said, pointing her finger over to a corner. I could see her slumped against the wall, unmoving.
"I found her saying your name over and over," said Weiss. "She was missing most of her face and kept sputtering. I only brought her here because she grabbed my by the ankle and demanded to come with you. Well, having something like that happen to you would certainly make you think twice before assuming someone's dead at first sight."
"Is she...mov...moving?" I asked.
Weiss took a quick look back and then said, "uhhhh. I'm not sure. She stopped moving about an hour ago and I haven't heard anything since."
Her mentioning a passing of an entire hour surprised me more than it should have. Who knew what else that Grimm was up to while we were here. And what about the rest of our team? If Weiss was still artound, maybe Blake and Yang would be too. I needed to take action, but my body just wouldn't let me. My head would shake every time I tried to lift it.
"What are you trying to do?" asked Weiss.
"I...need to...to get….out there," I said, struggling to even move my arms.
"Don't," said Weiss firmly. "We don't have a chance out there. You may not have seen what Beacon looks like, but I did. The buildings crawling with Grimm, many of them stronger than anything we've faced. It looks like a nightmare. No. that's exactly what it is. It's better if we find some way to escape and seek refuge."
"No," I said firmly.
"Excuse me?" said Weiss. She crossed both her arms and glared at me. "Have you even looked at yourself? I'll tell you what I see. I see a girl on the verge of death, stubbornly trying to be a hero when the odds are against her. This might be a shock to you, but I value you as a person. You're the only real friend I have in this place. If you were to die on me, I'd...I don't even know."
I could hear the strain in Weiss's voice. She was trying so hard to appear calm and collected. It was true that I wasn't in the best position to do anything. I'm sure the Grimm would rip me apart as soon as they saw me, effectively handing over my consciousness to that Grimm. I thought of the smug face it would give me while using my own face as a disguise and tried even harder to move. It was no use.
There were sounds of giant creatures walking around, feeling entitled to the remains of Beacon. I tried once more to move and felt a sting running through my spine. Maybe Weiss was right. Maybe I really didn't have a chance this time.
"BZZT...RUBY...RUBY…." said a voice. It sounded more like static that would occasionally be interrupted by either sparks or a distant voice.
"Penny?" said Weiss, taking the word right out of my mouth.
"AURA….BZZZT….I HAVE….BZZZT….TAKE IT."
"What?" asked Weiss.
"...BZZT….OPEN IT….BZZT….AURA…..YOURS."
My eyes widened at what she was saying.
"Are you sure?" asked Weiss.
"BZZT….BZZZT…..AM….BZZZT"
Weiss looked back at me as if to check for confirmation.
"DO IT," said Penny.