RWBYond Vale

AN: If you haven't seen it yet check out the RWBY video I made at watch?v=tBwkH3Gi378 I think it's amazing but I'm also bias. Here's another chapter in which our heroes prepare to get their sea legs. This one will probably be one of the shorter chapters.

Chapter 29: Well water we waiting for?

It had been a week since the battle of Haven and everybody had a chance to recover. Well everyone except Ruby whose leg was still in a cast. That didn't stop her from trying to walk. Blake, and the others were starting to get tired of telling her to rest. But their fearless leader would just shrug them off and assure them that she's fine. Ruby had even made it a point to get everyone to sign the cast and insisted on making jokes about how ironic it is that she of all people can't run. Blake had no idea how she did it. Maybe it was because she had Yang and all her friends there to keep her company. Maybe seeing Cinder's power up close had ignited something deep inside the young girl. Maybe her conversation with Edwin Glas had opened her eyes so that she was more self-conscious of her behavior. Maybe being up beat was just in her nature. Blake had always run when things got too tough for her to handle alone but Ruby always ran forward and preferred going it alone.

Blake could see it every time they fought Grimm together. It was an unspoken word that when team RWBY was in the chaos of battle it was better to give Ruby a wide berth unless Ruby says otherwise. Not only because of how dangerous her weapon is but also because Ruby would absentmindedly focus on exterminating the Grimm. Ruby knew the value of team work but would oftentimes not be paying attention if someone else called for a combo attack. In other words, Ruby was the only one who could lead them. Blake would be lying if she said she didn't envy the younger girls courage. Ruby had that kind of effect on people. It was actually Ruby who gave her the idea to use her copies to push forward instead of falling back. A tactic that proved useful on numerous occasions.

"You know," Ruby said trying to scratch her broken leg. "I kinda wish it was worse so that I could get a sweet robot limb."

"Trust me no you don't." Yang retaliated.

"But then it would itch." Ruby whined. "Blake, can I see your sword again." This was the third time in as many hours that Ruby asked to use Gambol Shroud as a scratcher. Apparently is was the only thing shard enough to scratch her leg but then enough to not rip the cast apart. So Blake obliged.

"So Ruby," Yang started. "Ready to get…"

"My sea legs back." Ruby said. "For the hundredth time, yes."

"Have I really become that predictable?" Yang asked.

"No." Ruby said. "It's just the third time you would've said it."

"Dang, I need to come up with something else."

"You did; you've had one every day this week."

"It's only because there's no one to make puns about my arm."

"Weiss tried."

"Ya, badly." At that minute Weiss walked in with Neptune and Sun.

"Ruby tell Neptune he's just being a baby." Weiss said.

"How is he a baby?" Yang asked.

"He thinks the ship is going to sink." Weiss said putting her hand on her hip.

"Well he's not wrong." Blake stated.

"See, I told you." Neptune said.

"Well this building could blow up and you'd be dead all the same." Weiss said turning to him.

"Well at least that would be instant."

"I don't get what the big deal is."

"You know how much water it takes to drown? Six inches."

"You're being overdramatic."

"I think my worries are well placed." The two kept raising their voices.

"Fight, fight, fight," Sun said, obviously enjoying their squabble.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss." Yang said pumping her fists.

"Please don't do either." Ruby said.

"Awww, but they're so cute when they argue." Yang said. Weiss blushed and stuck her nose up in the air with a humph. Neptune just chuckled a little to himself.

"Neptune," Ruby started. "We're going to be on a big ship, you won't even be able to tell you're on the water unless you look off the side. Other than that it's just like being on an air ship." Neptune nodded in understanding. He seemed to calm down a bit. "And Weiss, you need to understand that everyone has fears, you shouldn't make fun of them."

"Like how Blake is scared of dogs." Yang said. Blake got red with embarrassment as Sun and Neptune began laughing.

"Or how you are afraid of spiders." Blake retaliated. She didn't get the reaction she desired. Everyone just shrugged it off. "Or Weiss being scared of chickens."

"Hey," Weiss shouted. "chickens attacked me when I was a kid ok." The whole room fell silent.

"Ruby's afraid of clowns." Yang said breaking the silence.

"They are pretty creepy." Ruby said with a shrug.

"I wanna hear this Weiss, chicken story." Neptune said.

"I told you that in confidence." Weiss said. "I will most certainly not repeat it hear."

"Kinda like how I told you I was a Faunas in confidence." Blake said squinting her eyes.

"Hey it was only to team JNPR and they were our best friends. Besides, they haven't told anyone."

"I never even knew it was a secret." Penny said. Wait Penny, everyone turned towards the door and Penny and Jaune were standing there.

"Gah, Penny," Ruby said. "Where did you come from?"

"The hallway silly." Penny said plainly. Jaune face palmed.

"How long have you been there?" Weiss asked.

"Whenever you started talking about fears." Jaune said.

"We didn't want to be rude and interrupt." Penny said.

"I really want to hear this Weiss and the chicken story." Jaune said.

"Go away, you dolt." Weiss said.

"Jeez we were just coming up here to tell you Rio is ready to have us board."

"I've been wondering." Yang said. "Will you even function in water?"

"Most, certainly." Penny answered. "So long as all my compartments are closed I should be water combat ready." She finished with a salute.

"Well water we waiting for?" Yang said. "Get it?"

"It wasn't funny last time we were in Mountain Glenn and it isn't funny now." Weiss said with a sneer.

"I get it." Jaune said.

"No one cares Jaune." Weiss said.

"I care." Penny said. "And I also don't get it."

"Penny," Yang said. "I have a lot to teach you on this trip."

"Please no." Blake said.

"So," Ruby started and stood up, shifting her weight to her good leg. "Everyone ready to travel the high seas, infiltrate a stormy fortress, rescue the headmaster and bring down a group bent on world destruction, say I."

"Yes, lets bust some skulls." Yang said.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Jaune said.

"Sure." Blake said.

"Of course." Sun said.

"It does sound fun." Neptune said.

"Let's get on with it." Weiss said.

"I'm combat ready." Penny said.

"Unbelievable," Ruby said, "Seven other people in this room and not one of you said I." Ruby mopped for a second than started walking only to fall on her face.

"Ruby!" Yang said worriedly.

"Don't worry just forgot I only have one working leg at the moment."

Blake and Yang helped Ruby up and handed her the crutches. When they got to the ship Rio was waiting for them. "All right, now that we're all here I have something to say." Rio stated. "We are about to head to one of the deadliest places on earth and it's going to be a perilous journey to get there. Usually it only takes four people to run this ship but I've taken the liberty of giving each of the positions a rotating staff for the sake of a quick journey. Ren, Weiss, Neptune and myself have the morning shift. Nora, Yang, Sage and Natalie have the afternoon. Penny, Ruby, Scarlet, and Rubrum have the evening. Jaune, Blake, Sun and August have the late night." He then named all their positions and duties and stated that their mission groups will be different so it would be wise to interact with everyone as those groups are being decided by August. "August has files on all of you and throughout the journey will be coming up with the best way to group us for the mission. I know a lot of you are used to taking orders from your leaders and the rest of you are leaders. To you it may be odd that August and I are splitting our responsibilities but you leaders need to know this." He grabbed the wheel to the ship and began spinning it as the ship started to drift away from the dock. Rio smiled heavily as the current carried them off to sea. "On land you may command, but at sea it is me."

AN: I love that last quote. Adam West's Batman is so underrated and it probably won't be the last time I quote it. So now they are off. I'm not sure what order the next three chapters are going to be in but they are going to be interaction heavy. And then it will be on to the action stuff. Remember to follow, favorite and review and as always stay classy.