Weiss sighed, placing Ruby to the ground to rest. She knelt down while holding Ruby's left hand for support and set her down against a tree.
"How are you holding up?" Weiss asked.
Ruby stayed silent, lowering her head. "Why did we leave them?"
"We had no choice," Weiss said regretfully, "but if there's a chance to repair your eyes, we have to take it, right?"
"No repair needed," Ruby chuckled softly. "My eyes are closed."
"Wait, what?" Weiss blurted out.
"I closed them before this gunk got into them," Ruby said, gesturing her free hand towards her eyes covered in a viscous black goo.
"That's wonderful," Weiss said, breathing a sigh of relief, a slight smile crossing her face.
"Just help me get it off and we'll go back to get Yang and Blake,".
Weiss looked Ruby over noticing her skin was starting to look pale and her cheeks were flushed. She then looked around at the calm, quiet forest. "It's too quiet," she muttered. "We need to find shelter first."
"Come on, seriously, help me get this off please." Ruby looked up, innocently pleading with her teammate from behind the goo.
"Not a chance. I'm not losing you as well," Weiss said with a huff.
Weiss helped Ruby up to her feet and placed Ruby's arm around her.
"It's bad enough we left my baby back there," Ruby grumbled. "I just want the team back together Weiss."
"So do I, but you're the last silver-eyed warrior," Weiss explained. "We need to get you back in fighting shape first."
Ruby sighed, her lips falling into a frown as the duo set off. Weiss glanced down at her, giving a small smile.
After walking for what felt like hours, they entered a small clearing.
Weiss scowled and grumbled, her legs wobbling, trying to keep moving forwards whilst holding up Ruby. Though smaller than Ruby by a couple of inches, Weiss struggled to support Ruby but deep down she was thankful Ruby didn't have the added weight of Crescent Rose. "You really need to lay off the cookies."
Weiss dropped Ruby against a tree, taking a few deep breaths. She turned and noticed a worn old log cabin sitting in the centre of the clearing.
"I'm not that heavy," Ruby commented. "Besides, I have to be strong to wield Crescent Rose."
"Will you be ok if I leave you here to go check that cabin out?" Weiss asked quizzically, readying Myrtenaster.
"Sure," Ruby replied, "As long as I can see again soon." Her tone was sweet and innocent.
Weiss took another look at Ruby. Thankful that Ruby couldn't see her worry as she glanced over at Ruby's further paling skin.
"I'll be right back," Weiss said. "Now stay put."
Weiss made her way towards the log cabin, looking back to check on Ruby several times along the way. She looked up at the loose planks of wood on the door as she stood in front of the cabin.
"Hello?" she called, raising a gloved hand to knock on the door.
The door creaked open slightly, Weiss pushed it open the rest of the way, her weapon raised. She looked around the open room as she entered. Her eyes sweeping over a plain wooden bed with a white mattress, an old battered nightstand and chair sitting next to it.
"A bit basic," Weiss said, "but it will do."
She turned on her heel and walked back to Ruby.
"Come on you," she called, reaching down to grab Ruby's hands.
Weiss supported her friend and she could feel Ruby leaning into her support more than before.
"Weiss?" Ruby started, "Do you think Blake and Yang are alright?"
"I'm sure they're fighting their way back trying to find us," Weiss replied, a hint of worry in her voice, remembering back to the wall of tentacles blocking her view of Yang and Blake. The last thing she saw before losing sight of the two was the both of them being held down by other tentacles.
"You sound worried." Ruby said, looking at her partner.
"Of course I am, for every single one of us." Weiss snapped. Silence fell over the pair before Ruby decided to change the subject.
"Any Grimm around?"
"No, not that I've seen. It's odd really"
"Like a trap?"
"Most likely."
The pair soon found themselves off the grass and onto wood, the both of them sighing in relief at some form of shelter. Weiss guided Ruby over to the bed, gently assisting her in sitting down.
"So, any ideas on removing that gross stuff Ruby?" Weiss asked, closing the door.
"Could try burning it off," Ruby said.
Weiss folded her arms, "Not a chance." She pulled out her scroll, flicking over to the Aura app. Her heart sank at the sight of Yang and Blake's meter showing an empty bar. She could see that her own Aura was at 90% whilst Ruby's was flicking between 10% and 11%, "You've got no Aura according to this."
"Yeah you're probably right. Can't risk another curtain fire," Ruby snickered.
Weiss huffed. She was about to scold Ruby when a thought struck her. "She's trying to stay upbeat so she doesn't just break down."
"What about using ice Dust to freeze it? Dad once had to do it to Yang's hair when I accidentally got chewing gum in it. He used ice Dust to freeze it all together and cut it out," Ruby stated, giving a small, nervous chuckle.
"Would it even work? It may hurt, or worse..." Weiss said, panicking as she looked down at the floor, "I… I don't even know if I can do it."
"Weiss. I trust you," Ruby chimed, "We've known each other for a year and three months. We've fought in countless battles. I've always had your back, like you've had mine. I believe in you, we have to take this chance."
Weiss took a deep breath, exhaling sharply. Readying Myrtenaster, she rotated the chamber to the ice dust cartridge.
"You need to lie down!" she ordered.
Ruby nodded, laying back and wriggling about to get herself comfortable. Weiss rolled her eyes, approaching the bed.
"You need to stay still, otherwise I might freeze something else," she quipped, placing the sharp tip of her rapier as close as she dared to the goo.
She gently squeezed the trigger, releasing a stream of ice down the blade. Ruby tried her hardest not to shiver as she clenched her fists. A chilling blue colour began to spread across the harsh black surface as Weiss gently dragged her rapier over the substance.
"Is it working?" Ruby cautiously, asked.
Weiss didn't reply, keeping her focus on fully freezing the substance. With a small click, Weiss removed her fingers from the trigger, her eyes scanning over the crackling ice as it settled.
"Now comes the hard part," Weiss muttered, holstering Myrtenaster on her hip.
She leaned over Ruby, reaching her gloved hands towards the ice. Weiss shuddered, the cold air around the frozen substance breaking through her dark blue gloves. She readied herself before gripping either side of the slab of ice.
"Ready?" she asked, rolling her eyes at how dumb that must have sounded. "Of course she's not ready."
"Just try and do it quickly, like a bandaid," Ruby replied.
Weiss gently started pulling, gritting her teeth, Ruby's skin slowly stretching. Ruby bit her lip, fighting the urge to curse and swear until the sun went down as Weiss started to strain, pulling harder. With a sharp grunt and a yelp of surprise, Weiss stumbled backwards, landing hard on her back as the ice slab ripped from Ruby's face, flying across the room and through the window above the sink.
"Motherfucker!" Ruby moaned, placing her hands on her face as she bolted upright.
Weiss stared dumbfounded at the harsh language that came out of her mouth. "That's the first time I've ever heard her use such language," Weiss thought, Ruby's fingers still rubbing the area around her eyes, desperately trying to remove the chill and the pain.
"Ruby!" Weiss called, darting over to her.
Weiss placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. Ruby slowly removed her hands from her eyes and a smile crossed Weiss' face at the sight of Ruby's silver eyes. The skin surrounding her eyes was red-raw, uneven and slightly bloodied. To Weiss it looked like bad sunburn.
"I could kiss you!" Weiss cheered, grabbing her in a vice-like hug.
"And I thought you were the Ice Queen," Ruby chuckled, patting Weiss' back, "But there's no time to lose."
Ruby jumped to her feet, reaching out to grab something as she stumbled a little. A hand went to her head as she staggered into Weiss. Her partner pushed Ruby back onto the bed, not wanting to be knocked over.
"Ruby?" Weiss asked, concerned, sitting her friend back down.
"I'm fine!" Ruby said, a stubbornness in her tone.
Weiss looked at Ruby's ghostly white skin, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She looked over Ruby carefully as she rested a hand on her shoulder. Ruby's petite frame was shaking. Then Weiss noticed a large slash in Ruby's pale white left sleeve on her upper arm. Blood had partially stained the sleeve and as she took a closer look, Weiss could see three deep cuts on Ruby's arm.
"You're not alright," Weiss said.
Weiss pulled off her gloves as she walked around the cabin, opening cupboards.
"What are you doing?" Ruby asked, trying to get up.
"Stay!" Weiss sharply said as she opened a large door in the kitchen.
"Don't yell at me, Weiss. You sound like Marrow," Ruby snapped.
"Yes well, until you're better, you're just going to have to listen to me," Weiss retorted, pulling some towels and blankets from a shelf above a large blue water tank.
She walked over, placing them down on the bed before heading to the small open styled kitchen, throwing open every drawer and cupboard she could get her hands on. An old metal kettle shook as Weiss violently shut the drawers, rattling the counter. Weiss headed into the small bathroom, searching the lone cabinet under the sink. She couldn't help giving a smile and sigh of relief as she found a small brown medical bag.
Ruby gently swayed on the bed as Weiss knelt down next to her, opening up the medical bag. Ruby watched as Weiss took out a few small pins, a roll of bandages, clump of cotton wool and a small bottle of iodine.
"Not the stingy stuff!" Ruby protested.
"Tough," Weiss said, grabbing onto the tear on Ruby's sleeve, tearing it open some more, "Last thing we need is for you to get an infection."
Weiss unscrewed the bottle of iodine as she tore a small part of the cotton wool off. Gently, she tipped the bottle into the wool, the bronze liquid staining the whiteness. Ruby winced and squirmed against burning sensation as Weiss padded the soaked wool against the cuts.
"Ruby, to be honest, I think you might have an infection," Weiss stated, rhythmically stroking the wool against the cuts.
"What makes you say that?" Ruby asked, looking down at Weiss.
"The paleness, the sweating, the unsteadiness," Weiss listed off.
"I'll be fine." Ruby smiled, waving her left hand dismissively as her body trembled.
Ruby looked over at Weiss's downcast expression on her face as she sealed the bottle back up.
"You ok Weiss?"
"Ruby… Yang and Blake… do you think Salem is going to hurt them?" Weiss asked, preparing the bandage.
"It will be Salem's worst mistake. You know Yang's Semblance right!?" Ruby beamed.
"Yeah, but Salem has a new Grimm. It broke your Aura, nearly blinded you and those tentacles were surrounding them and I did nothing!" Weiss exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.
Ruby jumped a little, sliding off the bed, flinching in pain as she wrapped her arms around Weiss as she cried into the bed.
"What could you have done?" Ruby comforted. "I heard what Blake said, and she was right. It would have gotten us both killed or captured if you didn't get us out of there. We have each other now thanks to you, and once I'm ready, we'll find them together."
Weiss looked up, staring at her friend as she wiped her tears away. "Sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about. Now, how about that bandage," Ruby said, smiling.
Weiss sniffled as Ruby shifted herself around, making it easier for Weiss to access her wound.
"You know, it's weird to see you crying," Ruby stated as Weiss began to wrap a strip of the bandage tightly around the cut, "It shows you're not such a cold-hearted queen as you we're back in the early days of Beacon."
"Guess we all matured over time." Weiss smiled, concentrating on her handy work, "There we go!" she announced, securing the pin.
Ruby examined the tight bandage, small red stains were already starting to appear. Weiss got up and headed over the sink, turning on the taps.
"Don't suppose you got any thread to fix my sleeve?" Ruby asked, innocently.
Weiss just shook her head, washing Ruby's blood from her hands using a bit of the iodine to sanitize them afterwards.
"I should be thankful you learned first aid." Ruby began getting up, "Now can we please…"
A loud thud sounded out, Weiss jumped and turned around sharply. "RUBY!" she called, running over to Ruby's sprawled out, unconscious body on the floor.
Ruby screamed, falling through darkness. Her silver eyes shining, partially illuminating the place. With a loud splash, she felt cold water around her, seeping into her boots and drenching her clothes. She gagged and coughed, feeling her body slowly sinking. She kicked and flailed her arms frantically as shadowy hands reached up, grabbing her legs and shoulder. She took a deep breath, her body submerging under the water. Her eyes darted around as a purple glow spread throughout the water. A chilling laugh echoed around her.
"Weiss?" Ruby called out, "WEISS!"
Steam rose from the kettle as Weiss poured some water into a small bowl before taking it to the nightstand next to Ruby.
Suddenly, Ruby shot up, panting, her eyes darting around with a wince of pain. Weiss jumped, spilling a little onto the bed.
"Weiss?"
"Ruby," Weiss said, catching her breath as she placed a hand on her heart, "You ok?"
Ruby bit her tongue. She wanted to tell Weiss she was fine, but the look of fear and concern in Weiss' eyes made Ruby nervous and scared.
"My head hurts," Ruby croaked.
Weiss walked over to the bowl, placing a small bit of the iodine into the water. She dipped a strip of cloth into the water.
"Just lay down. Rest will make things better, I promise," Weiss said, her voice soothing Ruby a little as she placed the wet towel on a red gash on Ruby's forehead.
"What if I don't want to?" Ruby asked, not really wanting to close her eyes.
"Then I'll ban you from cookies for a month," Weiss threatened sarcastically. "But seriously, Ruby, you need to rest and gather your strength. Please."
Ruby exhaled gently, closing her eyes, feeling Weiss patting her on the shoulder.
Ruby looked around. A dim purple glow enveloping her, lighting up a small bit of the surrounding area, the darkness growing thicker away from the light. She looked down to see ripples emitting out from under her boots, as if she was walking on water.
A thick black smoke swirled and danced around her.
"Ruby Rose." Salem's chilling voice echoed around as her black figure formed in the smoke. She towered over the young huntress, staring her down. "Now this is interesting,"
"Salem," Ruby said, through gritted teeth. "You're not real. This is just a nightmare."
Ruby stood firm as Salem changed her size to match hers. Ruby shuddered, feeling Salem's cold hand against her cheek.
"This feels different," Salem stated as she folded her arms, "Unless..." She closed her eyes, "Oh, I see the cause of this. My new creature struck you." She sighed, waving her hand across Ruby's face.
Ruby's surroundings changed around her, a familiar forest forming. Her body began to shift to the left. She could feel someone, trying to drag her away. Her eyes widened as she could see a tentacle-like wall forming.
"Yang! Blake!" Ruby called out, trying to reach for them.
She yelped in surprise as spike tipped tentacles lashed towards her. Her head jolted round to see Weiss trying to usher her away to safety. Ruby cried out, a searing hot pain spreading through her left arm as multiple spikes whipped across her upper arm, tearing through her sleeve.
The forest disappeared as Ruby clutched her arm in pain. Salem stood next to Ruby, looking at the tear in her sleeve.
"So that's how it happened," she said, softly placing a finger against the bandage, "The Leech has already begun its work on you."
"No it didn't!" Ruby replied. "This has to be some kind of trick!"
Salem smiled, "And yet here I stand before you. You cannot stop me any longer, child."
"It's impossible! you can't just be in my head!" Ruby protested, "Salem can't be here. This is all in my head. " she thought.
"I'll give you credit. You are far more resilient than your mother was, but it is of no help now that the Leech has you." Salem chuckled, slowly fading away.
Two pairs of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, a dull series of thuds followed by clops echoed around her. Ruby's lips quivered at the all-too-familiar sound. Her mind flashed back to her Uncle Qrow being poisoned by Tyrian in the ruined town of Kuroyuri where she had led team JNPR against what Qrow had later told her was a Nuckelavee. Small tears filled Ruby's eyes as she remembered Jaune's yellow aura flickering as the creature stampeded over him. Jaune struggled to get up as the Nuckelavee fought off Ren and Pyrrha. A sickening crunch made Ruby feel sick, watching Jaune's broken body becoming crushed under the Nuckelavee's rear end as it dropped backwards by the blow to its neck from Crescent Rose.
"No," she whimpered, as a Nuckelavee Grimm stepped forth through the black smog. Ruby reached out a hand, trembling in fear at the recognizable shape of Yang. From the flowing locks to the jacket she had worn during her days at Beacon, riding on the back of a horse-shaped Grimm. The Grimm snarled and huffed heavily, coming to a stop a short distance from Ruby.
"Yang? Blake?" Ruby quivered, her eyes locking onto the familiar upper part of Blake's face.
"Wonderful, aren't they?" Salem quizzed. "I was always proud of the Nuckelavee, but they were so disorganized and solitary when left to their own devices. With my lovely new Alpha to lead the herds, the pitiful remains of Ozpin's Kingdoms will learn to fear their strength."
Ruby shook her head, placing her hands on the sides of her head. Her silver eyes flicked and fizzed like a broken lightbulb. She dropped to her knees as the smoke washed away the YuckelaBlake.
"That's not possible," Ruby thought, wiping away her tears.
Salem smirked, "With the Leech inside you. I can do this. "She placed a hand on the top of Ruby's head, spacing out her fingers as she pressed them into Ruby's head, "Show me your memories."
The surroundings slowly changed to a dim green and grey vault. Ruby gave a whimper at the sight of her friend, Penny, lying on the floor in pieces. Cinder stood triumphantly over Pyrrha's impaled body as Ozpin lunged towards her. Flames flickered from Cinder's eyes as a sinister smirk crossed her face.
"That's not how Cinder explained it." Salem looked down at Ruby, giving a small smile. "Focus, Ruby," Salem snarled, pressing her fingers harder into her head, her eyes glowing fiercely. The surroundings flickered as Ruby tried to shake her head.
Salem smirked, watching Ozpin rapidly striking his cane into Cinder's chest before smacking her across the side of her head. Pyrrha slid up behind Cinder, driving her shield into Cinder's legs, tripping her up. A loud crack sounded as Ruby let off a fire dust round towards Cinder from her sniper rifle.
"So that was his plan," Salem stated, looking behind Ruby at Penny kneeling down next to a frail old lady, blood staining her blue kimono.
Ruby shook her head violently, struggling to free herself from Salem's grip.
With a loud scream, Ruby jerked herself backwards, tearing her head away from Salem which made the surroundings crack and splinter to black.
"Penny Polendina. I thank you for your help Ruby."
"What? What was that?" Ruby asked, backing away from Salem.
"Part of the corruption. You can feel and see me in your mind which allows me access."
"You won't win!" Ruby exclaimed with a tone of authority, staring Salem dead in the eye a wave of burning anger stirring in her heart, tears forming in her eyes. "We will defeat you!"
Salem started to fade away in a gentle swirl of smoke, "It has already begun."
Jaune appeared in front of her, a low groan escaping his mouth, echoing around her.
"Ruby," Jaune said, his voice shaking. He looked up at her, his skin pale, mouldy and peeling off, his eyes a burning red.
Voices whispered around Ruby, "You did this. You hurt us. You cannot fight. Let's us in."
The ground shook violently, thunder rolling, flashes of lighting revealing crumpled dead bodies, torn limbs and abandoned weapons. Suddenly, the ground erupted as a towering figure rose up, its body twisting and contorting violently into Summer Rose.
A shrill shriek echoed around her as Summer came down towards her, enveloping Ruby in a thick cloud of smoke. Ruby waved her hands about, trying to clear the smoke and coughing heavily as parts of it entered her mouth as she breathed in. It burned the inside of her throat and nose, her eyes watering as the smoke stung at them.
The ground beneath her gave way, and Ruby cried out. The smoke tightened around her, small wisps snaking off and violently looping back around to hit Ruby's chest. A grey smoky jaw opened around Ruby, consuming her.
Weiss gently placed a fresh wet towel strip on Ruby's forehead. A concerned look crossed her face as she watched Ruby whimper and shiver for the sixth time. She placed a hand against Ruby's cheek, wincing at the hot feel of the skin.
Weiss grumbled, staring out through the broken window above the sink, "Come on Pyrrha! Normally you guys pour out looking for us if we've been on a mission for over six hours!" Weiss sighed and returned to tending to her friend, feeling Ruby's neck, checking her pulse. "She might not have long!" Weiss' face feeling Ruby's pulse racing.
Ruby gasped, her eyes bolting open. She gave a grunt as Weiss hugged her.
"Weiss?" Ruby quizzed.
"I was so worried," Weiss said, tightened her hug, "You've been out for hours!"
Ruby gently pushed Weiss away, dragging her shaking knees up to her chest.
"How are you feeling?" Weiss asked, placing a hand on Ruby's knee.
"Like I got hit by a Boarbatusk," Ruby sighed, her head pounding in time with her heart.
Silence fell for a few moments before Ruby spoke up."I saw them. Blake and Yang,"
"What?" Weiss asked, confused.
"I don't know what it was. It felt like a nightmare, but I saw them both. There was hardly anything left of them." Ruby buried her head into her knees, tears running down her face. Her head shook in defiance.
Weiss looked away, a look of despair coming into her eyes. "Maybe it was just a nightmare?" she suggested, placing her hands on her heart.
"I thought so too, even when I saw Salem, but… it felt too real."
"Let me get you some water. Just take deep breaths," Weiss said, getting up.
Ruby paused, "She told me I have Grimm in me."
"Well, that sounds about right. It's going to begin soon," Weiss said, stopping. Wings erupted from her back as horns grew from her forehead. Her feathery wings flapped, raising her off the ground, Weiss' figure becoming smoky and dark as she lunged at Ruby.
Ruby shot up screaming, the towel falling from her forehead.
"Hey, you're awake!" Weiss said, reaching out to hug her.
"Get away from me!" Ruby shrieked, bolting off the bed. She staggered, trying to get away from Weiss, heading into the small cubicle-shaped bathroom, locking the door behind her.
She slumped against the wall, placing her hands on the sides of her head, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Ruby?" Weiss cautiously asked, knocking on the door.
Ruby stayed silent, her fingers playing with her ears. The soft bristle of hairs starting to sprout through the skin, tickling them. The curved tips twisted, pulling into points. Ruby gave a small yelp, yanking her hands away from her ears as she felt a sharp pain spreading through her fingers. Short stubby white claws pushed her fingernails off.
"Ruby come on, please open the door," Weiss begged.
Ruby's eyes shot towards the door. A shrill chiming noise echoed from outside the door and a ghostly blue and white stinger pierced through the door, hooking onto it as it pulled it off the hinges.
Ruby looked down, not daring to look at the fading Lancer or its summoner. Weiss walked over to her, kneeling besides Ruby. Ruby flinched at the touch of Weiss' hands wrapping around her.
"What's wrong?" Weiss asked softly, her tone mixed between comforting and concerned.
Ruby looked up at Weiss tearfully, the once hopeful silver eyes darkening into a blaze of red. Her teeth biting her lower lip as Weiss covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes watering at the sight of Ruby's pointy ears. Weiss stretched out her arms and pulled Ruby in for a hug, Ruby rested her hand on Weiss' right shoulder, keeping her hands away from Weiss.
"We… iii… iss," Ruby stuttered, the stubby claws lengthening and curving inwards slightly.
"It's ok Ruby," Weiss comforted.
"No, it's not!" Ruby despairingly whimpered, fearfully struggling against Weiss not wanting to hurt her. Her whimpers turned into tearful cries, parts of her fingers turning black and smoke rising from under her glove. She watched as her gloves creaked and started unravelling around her hands, her slender fingers growing larger. Flakes of black cloth and leather fluttered to the ground, until with a final tear, two monstrous hands ripped her gloves entirely in half.
"Weiss!" Ruby cried out in desperation, sharply twisting her body about. With a low growl she tore free of her partner's comforting grip, shoving her partner away from her.
Weiss stared in shock, unable to take her eyes off of Ruby's deformed hands resting on her knees.
"She's changing me… She changed Blake… Yang… and now me," Ruby muttered, lowering her head, red blood dripping from her mouth and staining her skirt and blouse. A clink sounded out, a second clink followed, then another and another. White teeth bouncing off her skirt and onto the floor. Ruby gave a strained, continuous groan of pain, four great white canines grew from her jaws alongside shorter keen teeth filling the gap between them.
Weiss held out a hand, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Ruby's ears wiggled, growing bigger, her black hair parting around her ears as they slid upwards towards the top of her head.
Bones cracked and snapped under Ruby's skin, drowning out her muffled cries and screams. Her huge hands slammed against the sides of her head, her tears soaking her growing black fur sprouting through her cheeks. Her skin stretched around her mouth and nose, the cracking of bones intensifying as her mouth and nose pushed outwards.
Weiss stared dumbfounded. The top half of Ruby's face was still her own, albeit the skin turning black while the lower half represented an animal muzzle. A thick white plate made of bone grew out of the top half of the muzzle.
"Grimm," Weiss said, getting to her feet, her left hand instinctively going for her rapier's hilt.
Four bone spikes sprouted through the skin on the far sides of her forearms, with the fourth ones growing from her elbow. Black stains appeared on Ruby's sleeves as bumps started to form. Two more lumps formed around the shoulder area of her blouse with one on the tip of her upper arm. There was loud tearing, the growing spikes ripping through her sleeves, and Ruby gave a loud growl trying to push out some words.
"N… No... Stopping this!" Ruby slipped her deformed hands onto the floor, the faint bristle of fur growing over them.
"You can stop it Ruby!" Weiss called, "Fight! You have to fight it with everything you've got! Like every battle you've fought! Fight for Yang, Blake, and Me! Remember Penny! You have to fight for her too!"
Weiss' words sounded distorted and echoey to Ruby. She shook her head, flashes of Beacon during her first few months there, bumping into Penny while out looking for Blake after she had fled to chase down Roman Torchwick. The fight in the Beacon vault alongside Penny flashed before her eyes. She felt a cold kiss hitting her black lips, the memory of Penny kissing her before rushing into the heat of battle trying to save Atlas.
"NO!" Ruby snarled, her body lurched forwards, knocking Weiss down to the ground.
"RUBY!" Weiss shrieked, grunting as Ruby pressed her hands against her arms.
Weiss' blue Aura began to flicker around her arms against the pressure of Ruby's steadily growing arms. Twin pops sounded as the buckled straps of Ruby's bracers snapped, a leathery tearing filling Weiss' ears. Ruby's ruined bracers fell away from her arms, a continuous tearing followed shortly after as her sleeve seams tore along with tears forming throughout the sleeve. Each tear revealing the ominous dark skin consuming Ruby's pale white complexion.
Weiss squirmed, making Ruby laugh whilst snarling, her ears twitching. "Watching your prey squirm felt satisfying!" she thought.
"Ruby. Get off me!" Weiss screamed, flinching her head away as Ruby's mouth lunged for her neck. Weiss shuddered, feeling the warm breath against her neck as Ruby stopped, sniffing the scared woman curiously.
Ruby backed away, releasing Weiss, whimpering like a scared animal. Weiss stood back up, her hand going for her weapon. Ruby's head darted downwards, looking at the two bulging lumps forming in her boots around her knees. Two more lumps formed around the rear of her heels.
"Wei… iss?" Ruby asked, her voice cracking, her smooth, hyperactive tone replaced by a gruff, masculine voice.
The leather fractured around the thick spikes erupting through her boots. The leather stretched and bulged, the steel plating across the toe section becoming more of a hindrance than protection. Within her shoes, her pinkie toes retracted back into her feet whilst her remaining toes swelled. Her toenails ripped off, making way for sharp white claws that dug into the fronts of her boots, the metal plates rising up. The lone buckles around her ankle snapped against her growing feet. The seams ripped from one side of each steel plate to the other, her heels extending up into the air, pulling her feet out of her boots.
Her animal hands stretched up above her, readying for a strike.
"It's like a caged animal trapped inside me. It's in pain like me," Ruby thought, "It's trying to defend… no, WEISS!"
Ruby slammed, her hands into the ground, growling defiantly.
Weiss stared dumbfounded at Ruby's boots hanging limply over beastly animal feet. The pale white skin becoming a memory as the darkness consumed it, flakes of her stockings scattered around her. Weiss felt uneasy and queasy, watching what remained of her teammate's footwear and stockings, fighting to contain her legs. The muscles within her legs popped like popcorn as the bone cracked. Weiss found herself starting to look up as Ruby stood taller, staring down at the small human.
"Crush like an ant!"
"So small and fragile!"
"Crush the enemy!"
What remained of the clothing around her thighs finally gave way to the bulging muscles. Her spine cracked and snapped, pained roars and growls, fabric groaned behind her, tearing around her new growth. Ruby's ears twitched, her eyes clamped shut at the sensation of a broad appendage growing out of her tailbone, her darkening flesh stretching in time with the new extension to her spine. Her hips joined in pushing outwards as the bones creaked, widening, pushing her clothing past the point of no return. Clumps of black fur sprouted through her new appendage's skin, each clump grew thicker, creating a gentle flow of black that graduated to a few white streaks, a tint of red forming amongst the black.
The ground shook violently as Ruby slammed her hands into the ground, Weiss toppled over from the small shockwave. She stared at the Grimm beast, still caged by Ruby's cape and top clothing. A small squared spike grew out of the back of her thickening neck, six more matching spikes breaking through skin and clothing in rapid succession.
Ruby gave a long and loud growl, her breathing deepening with a slight rasp too it. Her back muscles spasmed and ballooned as her spine grew thicker, becoming stronger. The front laces on her corset snapped, Ruby's head shook rapidly as a loud ripping occurred, a muscular back and chest exploded out of the remaining clothing.
Weiss cautiously stepped forwards, Ruby's signature black hair with red streaks growing longer and thicker, like the fur sprouting out of her back.
"Rub… Ruby," Weiss stammered, "You… You're a Grimm." She placed her hand onto the creature's muzzle, casting her eyes over the cape wearing Grimm, recognizing the beastly frame of a Beowulf.
The Beowulf lowered it's head, whining in fear, it's human looking eyes gained a glowing yellow centre. It raised it's right hand, claws aiming down at Weiss.
"You know you want to!"
"Do it. Strike her down!"
"Claim your prey!"
Weiss closed her eyes, "I'm not scared of you!" she said defiantly, "You're better than this Ruby! I know you're still in there somewhere!"
She felt the warm breath sweeping through her hair and down her neck, followed by something falling on top of her head as her body was knocked to the ground. Weiss opened her eyes stunned at the sea of red fabric, she quickly pulled it off. A loud splintering noise filled her ears as she looked behind her to see the cabin's main door was now in pieces.
"RUBY!" Weiss called, getting to her feet. She looked down, her fists clenching around Ruby's red cape.
Weiss dropped to her knees, tears streamed out of her eyes as she let a loud scream, crying like a newborn baby into her partner's cape.
"Weiss?"
Weiss looked, her tears blurred the vision of a trio of friendly faces, "Ren." Her voice shook like her body. Ren knelt down, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Where are the others?" Nora asked, looking worriedly at the torn clothing behind Weiss, before glancing to Pyrrha worriedly.
Keys clattered into the white and blue ceramic bowl. A tall man threw his jacket over the sofa as he sat down.
"Is that you Ocotlan?"
"Yeah mom, it's me!" Ocotlan called, letting his hair down from its ponytail.
He slumped down into the sofa, rubbing his eyes.
"Hello! I am Professor Ozpin!"