It was finally Ruby's turn. The sun was starting to set and she didn't feel like that made her chances any better. At least with some luck, she would be able to position herself so that the sun would be in Cinder's eyes. And Qrow was going to be there. Although, he was pretty useless when he was supposed to save Blake.
"About Blake," she said.
"I overestimated her former partner's mental stability. I am truly sorry." Cinder said.
"Not an excuse."
"I shouldn't be blamed for the actions of a third party."
"You made it happen."
"And feel sorry for it. If I had known what would happen, I wouldn't have done it."
Perhaps allowing Cinder to do whatever she pleased was the wrong decision after all.
Ruby decided it would probably be for the best if she went to Ozpin after this. Maybe her organization would continue without Cinder, but for now, Cinder was a bigger threat.
Ruby unfolded Crescent Rose and Cinder picked up a sword from outside the ring. She definitely wasn't going to fight seriously, but Ruby didn't particularly want her to.
Ruby approached cautiously and swung at her. Cinder blocked and came in close.
With a long weapon like Ruby's, Cinder definitely had the advantage. Maintaining an appropriate distance would be a pain, so Ruby decided to just roll with it and fight at close range. Her weapon was big enough so that she could block effectively even when close up.
She waited for Cinder to slip up, then started her own series of attacks, forcing Cinder to dodge backwards.
Then she shot her rifle, but Cinder blocked it with her hand, then went on the offensive.
"That was a little dangerous," Ruby said while falling back. "You used that move when we first met."
Cinder shrugged and went in closer.
Her technique with a sword was certainly subpar, Ruby thought. It made her wonder what Cinder's true way of fighting was. Well, it's not like she wanted to find out.
Ruby reversed her momentum and kicked Cinder in the chest, then swung her scythe around with all of her strength behind it, only to be stopped just before hitting by Glynda's telekinesis.
"Well that was disappointing," Cinder said. "She must be getting paranoid after letting that many people get hurt."
Ruby's win was announced over the stadium.
"I guess," Ruby said.
"So, I said I'd tell you something good if you won," Cinder said. "I'm not really happy with accepting that as a win, but whatever. I was going to say it either way. I lied to you when I said I had nothing to do with your mother's death. Actually, I was the one who did it."
"By did it, you don't mean..."
"Yep. Pulled the trigger, so to speak. If you want to find out more, make sure I don't die."
With that, Cinder raised her hand and fired off a fiery projectile faster than Ruby could react. It hit her squarely in the chest and exploded. Ruby felt her consciousness slip for a second.
When she regained her senses, Ruby found herself surrounded by people she didn't know. She was on the stands. There was a faint smell of smoke surrounding her, but much more worrying was the fact that the air around her was much hotter and drier than in was a few seconds ago. Back in the arena, she could see Cinder with the air around her shimmering from the heat and random flames shooting around her.
Then, Ruby saw Cinder's hand extend in her direction again.
So she didn't need Ruby after all. She lied about everything, didn't she?
Was it all just a game to her until the very end? Was Ruby just some source of entertainment for her until she was ready to carry out her real objective?
