"Weiss, you sure you still aren't able to get through to Ruby?" Yang asked for the 6th time today, while sitting on the bunk of the bed.
She had worry return all over her face, her eyebrows almost never relaxing, her mouth was curled into a deep frown.
For a while now, her heart hadn't calmed down. Her mind refusing to stop making up scenarios... Negative scenarios. Ranging from being at a friend's house, to being kidnapped by Roman. Every assumption was worse than than the previous one.
She didn't want to admit it, but she could very well remembered slapping her sister across the face two weeks ago.
At that time, she was filled with frustration and rage, that she failed to see what she had done. Only after Ruby went out, did she have enough peace of mind to calm down. Thinking back to it, she could still remember her sister's expression at that time.
She looked scared, and had tears welling up in her eyes. She looked so pained, that it still hurt remembering her whimpering voice.
She regretted it, what she had done to her precious sister. The same sister who used cling on to her every time she was scared...
'Ruby... Where are you?' She thought as she breathed out a sigh.
She heard Weiss, who was sitting on the study table groan at her repeated question.
Dropping the pen on the open notebook, she scooted her chair around, now facing the worried Yang.
"Yang, you act like she is some infant lost in a mall. Surely, she might just be over to a friend's house or something." Weiss assured her, but deep down,she too was worried, and most importantly, annoyed.
Annoyed that Ruby was off irritating the team once again with her childish stunts. From the very first day, Ruby had done nothing but drag everyone along with her immature schemes, unknowingly getting on the nerves of a lot if people. But a bigger part of her was actually worried that something bad might have happened to their young leader.
"Maybe we should look somewhere outside Vale... Though I'd hardly suspect her going anywhere that far." Blake suggested from across the bed, keeping her eyes on the book.
"Sure she's usually reckless, but not that reckless. Then again, like Weiss said, maybe she's just at a friend's house"
"But she doesn't have any friends outside of Beacon!" Yang yelled, turning to Blake.
"Now that's a rude assumption to make"
Everyone's eyes in the room widened, as they immediately recognized the high pitched voice. All of them in snapped there heads to the door, and saw that it was indeed their missing leader.
Relief, anger, and regret. All three members of the team were flooded with a lot of emotions, that they wanted to pour it all over Ruby. But were stopped, as their eyes registered Ruby's new look.
She looked like an Emo, an actual Emo unlike Blake. And the best part, she looked great. Though in her team's eyes, especially Yang's, she just looked corrupted and spoiled.
The team had to recollect their emotions and words, before they tried to speak with Ruby. But the redhead didn't give them the room to speak, as she just went past them and walked to the cupboard.
"Ruby, where the hell have you been!?" Yang yelled, as she came and stood behind Ruby.
The redhead paid no attention to her sister, as she was busy stacking her new cloths and her cloak on the cupboard.
'Maybe I should buy some more cloths...' she thought looking at the empty space.
Getting impatient for a reply, Yang yelled again.
"Ruby, answer me! WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN!?" this time, her tone somewhat shook Weiss and Blake. They've never heard the brawler get this angry over anything. But what stunned them more, was that Ruby was continuing to ignore the red eyed Yang.
The said girl pulled out the compact form of crescent rose from the cupboard, making Blake take a step back. Thanks to her time with white fang, she knew when something was wrong.
But that wasn't the case for Weiss and Yang, who continued glaring at the girl obliviously, as she sat on Weiss's bed, with her baby on her lap.
"What the hell were you thinking running off like that!? Why are you always such... Such a kid!?" Weiss yelled, stepping forward.
Again, no reply from Ruby, who just continued caressing her fingers over Crescent Rose, lovingly, as her black lips formed a subtle smile.
"Hey!! Say somethi-" Weiss was about to yell, if not for feeling the cold metal touching her neck.
Her eyes widened, and her body froze, as she realized that Ruby had opened and pointed her scythe at her. To elevate her fears, she could also feel the sharpness of it.
Just a little tug, and...
"Pretty sharp, isn't it?" Ruby asked. But got no reply, as all of her teammates were frozen in place with fear, looking at the blade with wide eyes.
Seeing their reactions, Ruby couldn't help but feel a bit bad for scaring them.
She removed her beloved scythe out of the way, and stood up.
"Now that I have all of your attentions, lemme get straight to the point." she said as she converted her love back to its rifle form and stood up.
"These past months, you people were... Possibly the most horrible team that anyone could ever ask for." she bluntly admitted, gaining a surprised gasp from Weiss. And a pained "what?" from Yang and Blake.
It somewhat hurt Ruby to put her sisters in a tough spot, but it was a necessary action. Something she should have done a long time ago.
With a little shake of head, Ruby continued.
"You people barely listen to what I have to say during missions, going off making your own strategies... Strategies that could've gotten all of us killed if not for me wearing myself out protecting everyone..." She wanted to complain about them ignoring her too, but she didn't.
She had Natalie now... So it didn't matter...
"I was... Scarred, of loosing you all. I didn't want to say something that would hurt you guys, causing you to hate me... But" Her tone sharpened as she continued.
"You guys, took advantage of my kindness. You took advantage of my love for all you... It was so cruel. Such a cruel thing to do..." Ruby shook her head as she grinned.
"Rubes, its not li-" Yang began, only to be cut off.
"But now, things are different. You see, I am pretty optimistic when it comes to my team. So, today you three have a chance." Ruby announced, while slightly spreading her arms.
"A chance?" Weiss questioned.
"Yup! You see, I'm gonna take on all three of you on by myself. If you guys win, then any one of you three can become the new team leader" Ruby added.
"Wait, really?" Weiss was first to question.
"Yup! It's a promise" Ruby grinned.
"Alright then... When are we gonna do it?" Surprisingly, it was Yang who asked.
"Right now." Ruby informed.
"Alright then, but if we win, then you are gonna have to listen to what we have to say" Yang said, hoping to find a way to explain their actions to Ruby.
They just wanted some time for themselves... An effortless apology like that...
"Sure!" Ruby chirped,very well aware of Yang's intentions.
"Alright then, lets do this!" Yang said with folded arms and a smug grin. It actually hurt to see that her once loving little sister had come to despise her, but at least now she had a chance to redeem herself.
"Cool! Now, off to the Arena you go! I'll be there after changing to my battle attire" Ruby said, hurrying her team out of the dorm room.
Once they were out, she shut the door behind them.
Once she locked the door, her smile dropped.
A facade that she kept throughout the conversation, was now gone. Replaced with a poker face, and eyes with a glint of hate.
Stretching her arms, she stripped from her dress and walked to the cupboard with only her Lacey underwear. All while thinking of few points to remember during the fight.
'Okay Ruby, never stay in a place for longer than two seconds, it may lead to Weiss trapping me in her glyphs. The first time I hit Blake, it's gonna be a clone. Try not to go toe to toe with Yang, especially when she's using her semblance.'
Also considering her stats, she had fair amount of superhuman strength, thanks to wielding Crescent rose. No doubt she was the fastest in the group. Plus, with her newly added calmness, there was an amazing fluidity in her arsenal. Besides, she's already observed her teammate's fighting many times, and she knew what to expect.
Since she was gonna do this without Crescent Rose, she had to make perfect use of her strength, speed and fluidity to ensure her victory.
Quickly deciding a strategy, she opened her cupboard and put on her new battle outfit.
A black tank top, to go with black cargo pants, with black boots. She also wore fingerless gloves that were of neon red and black. And to finish up, she wore a plain black velvet choker, that had a silver rose pendant, and a scarlet crystal in centre.
Even Ruby couldn't believe it, that Natalie was the one that brought all this for her.
Smiling to herself due to remembering Clockwork, she walked down to the arena.
Entering the plane arena, she saw that her team was already waiting for her, armed and ready. And surprisingly, a lot of people were gathered around to witness the fight.
People she very well knew, like team JNPR, CFVY, CRDL, Glynda Goodwitch to people who she's never bothered to even spare a second glance before. And she was sure, that Professor Ozpin was watching too.
As she entered the Arena, almost everyone took a moment to appreciate Ruby's looks. As it was a perfect blend of Goth and Punk.
Ignoring the looks, she continued walking. Once she was standing right in front of her team, who were still having a hard time taking in Ruby's new outfit, she spoke.
"The rules are very simple, you knock me out, you win. Got it?' Ruby asked, gaining few nods from her stunned teammates. Yang wanted to ask why Ruby wasn't wearing her cloak, but decided to question it later.
"Where is your Scythe?" Weiss asked.
"I won't need it for now" Ruby informed.
Weiss wanted to complain about Ruby's arrogance, but pushed down the urge.
'I'll discipline this dolt after I become the team leader' she advised herself.
Ruby took a look at her team, before starting hop as she announced:
"I'll remind you, If you can't beat me within the first 3 minutes, then I'll win this too easily" she grinned.
Yang readied her Ember Celica, as Weiss placed her hand on her Myrtenaster's handle, and Blake held onto her Gambol Shroud.
The bell rang, and the fight began with Weiss shooting Ice crystals at Ruby, who dodge them while bolting off to a side, keeping her body low to ground.
As she made a lot of distance between her and WBY, from the corner of her vision, she spotted a long arc of glyphs forming ahead of her.
'An Ice wall to stop me from running ,huh?' Ruby thought with a grin, before running right towards the glyphs. As she did, she noticed Yang exploding her way towards her, and Blake ready to launch one of the Sickles at her.
As the long wall of ice burst forth, Ruby jumped right on the Icy slop. Using her semblance for just a second, she propelled herself forward and used the momentum to skitter her way through the ice. Yang quickly followed up behind her, using Ember Celica to propel her forward.
While Yang was almost about to catch Ruby, Blake swung one of her sickles at Ruby, aiming to catch her.
Ruby immediately leaped off the Ice, catching the approaching sickle mid air. Without a breath of time, she used her semblance to spin, coiling the rope loosely around her and pulling Blake off the ground. Before the airborne duo can crash into each other, Ruby grounded herself and yanked the rope towards the ground, causing Blake to go face first into it.
Ruby took a look at Blake, who was rubbing her sore forehead, while slowly getting back to her feet.
"Stings, doesn't it?" Ruby whispered, before side stepping Yang's superman punch from behind. Turning towards Yang, she swiftly dodged a kick that swung across her face.
"Oooooh~ This is interesting" Ruby said as she dodged a jab, and blocked a spinning back fist from Yang.
"Shut up!" Yang yelled, as she delivered a jump spin kick to Ruby. At least was about to, if not for Ruby catching her ankle and slamming her to the ground.
Yang kicked her leg up, and got back to her feet. Not so surprisingly, Blake had gotten back to her feet too.
Giving a nod at each other, the Bumblebee pair pounced over to the redhead. Blake went to sweep Ruby's legs, and Yang swung her leg at her sisters face. The redhead saw that coming, and made a back flip.
As a the two pair of legs went past her, and her world turned upside down, she saw her sister's frustrated face. And despite herself, she thought...
'Pathetic...'
Landing on her hands, she made two more back flips in order to avoid Blake's slashes, before performing a flare. The pair took a step back, in order to avoid any hit.
Weiss, who was far away from the team, raised her Myrtenaster and cast a huge glyph over Ruby.
This instantly came to Ruby's knowing, in the form of giant shadow cast down at her. She grinned ear to ear before making a move.
As the huge Iceberg descended down at them, Yang and Blake barely caught a glimpse of rose petals that circled them, before they saw Ruby already at a safe distance, waving at them with an innocent smile. The Bumblebee pair tried to get away from the icy impact too, only to trip down and realise that Ruby had used the ropes of Gambol Shroud to tie both of their legs.
Yang was quick to act, as she immediately got on top Blake, in an effort to shield her.
Before Weiss could even think of stopping the descending Ice, it already crashed down on the pair, with Yang taking most of the impact.
"Yang! Blake...! No..." Weiss regretted, as she for sure knew it would hurt like hell, to be crushed under an iceberg.
Gritting her teeth, she shot a glare at Ruby. As the redhead watched Blake, slowly and painfully slither out ice, she felt her partner's Icy glare pointing towards her.
Still keeping the innocent smile, Ruby turned to face Weiss, who was standing quite a distance away.
Ruby's smile stretched ear to ear, and her lips parted to show her gritted teeth. Grinning devilishly, she took a running stance, purposefully indicating to Weiss that she was about to use her semblance.
'That's it! I'm ending this!' Weiss thought, as she formed a straight line of glyphs towards Ruby, Who had scarlet petals scattering around her.
In a flash, the heiress and the punk bolted towards each other. The crowd could only catch a glimpse, of what seemed like a walking blizzard, and a scarlet shooting star, moving towards each other at lightning speed.
Time seemed to slow down, as Ruby fluidly placed a hand over Myrtenaster and made a front flip, jumping over her partner in an inverted fashion. Weiss, immediately turned around, swinging her weapon in the process. But to her horror, she only saw scattering rose petals. In panic ,she turned around again.
Something, weighing as heavy as a rock, crashing on her face was the last thing she felt.
A nasty crack was heard, as Ruby dug her balled fist into Weiss's face. Thanks to the combination Ruby's slight super human strength, and the speed from her semblance, Weiss just felt the most painful and heaviest punch she's ever had.
The heiress went flying back, spraying few droplets of blood as a trail, before she fell limp on the ground. Obviously on the verge of passing out, it took all of her consciousness to realize that her face was a bloody mess, and her nose was utterly smashed.
As her vision darkened, the last thing she saw was Ruby, standing tall over her, holding her Myrtenaster.
As Weiss passed out, Ruby pulled out a veil of fire dust from her partner's weapon, and slipped it into her pocket.
"Weiss!" Ruby heard an all familiar voice scream. Throwing away the Myrtenaster, she turned her attention Blake.
The faunus was standing, with somewhat wobbly legs. Hissing in pain, she glared at Ruby, before lunging towards her team leader.
'As expected of Blake, she doesn't give in...' Ruby smiled in a twisted sense of moral, as she spin kicked Blake's clone, and grabbed the real one's foot before she could escape.
'But this fight is almost over!'
Slamming the pained faunus on the ground, Ruby got on top of her, and pinned Blake's arms to the ground using her knees.
The crowd watched in shock, as Ruby started punching poor Blake's face left and right. From the barrage of brutal punches, Blake spotted two things:
Ruby with a terrifying grin, and that her leader's hands had turned into a bloody mess. She realised that her lips had been cut, thus the sour taste in her mouth.
As Ruby continued beating up Blake's bloody, and swelling face, the Ice berg suddenly exploded.
"Heh~ sooner than I expected"
Ruby watched amusedly, as out from the garden of steam, Yang emerged.
Her eyes were an angry red, and her hair was on flames. Molten yellow flames.
With no thought, blinded by anger, Yang lunged at Ruby. Her hand already drawn back for a punch.
As she neared Ruby in fury, time slowed down again.
Right in front of her, she saw a veil of fire dust, slowly making its way towards her, just few inches away from her now. Her eyes widened, as behind the approaching fire dust, she saw Ruby.
She was standing there with a smile, and was holding one of Blake's shroud in rifle form. Most importantly, the barrel of the gun was pointed straight at the fire dust.
Yang's eyes widened, and before she could even fully realise it was a trap, she was blown away by an ear ringing explosion. The force was enough to knock her out, and send her flying out of the arena.
There was silence throughout the arena for a minute, everyone having difficulties trying to digest the unexpected brutality. Especially from the brightest student herself.
"Heh, gotta thank Roman for that" Ruby chuckled to herself.
But, the bell rang, and Glynda called off the match. The students were finally pulled out of their trans, and started cheering for Ruby's victory.
Hell, even Cardin himself couldn't help but join in the cheering.
As the medics arrived to pick up the beat up bodies of WBY, Glynda went on to sending the students back to their respective classes. At least was about to, if not for being tackled by Ruby herself.
"Professor!!!" Ruby exclaimed, as she hugged Glynda from behind.
Glynda pushed down a feminine yelp, and forcefully straightened herself. With a little blush on her cheeks due to the sudden assault, she faked clearing her throat and spoke.
"Ah... Miss Rose.." was all she could say, as Ruby was keeping her face annoyingly close to hers.
"Well? How was I!? How was I!?" Ruby chirped, with sparkling eyes, and an innocent smile that betrayed her black lips.
'Miss Rose! What in remnant happened to your shyness!?' Glynda thought to herself, before she spoke.
"Yes... You have improved greatly, Miss Rose." She said with a faint smile.
"Keep it up" for reasons unknown, it was hard maintaining her confident demeanour.
"Kyaaa! Professor praised me! Professor praised me!" Ruby chirped again, hugging the older woman tighter. After all, it wasn't normal for the very strict professor to actually praise someone.
'This girl... She's gonna be the death of me if she goes on like this' Glynda flustered, glad no one saw her soft side for her favourite student.
Though a part of her still wondered, how someone so bright like herself, could display such a cold brutality?
'Maybe she was always this way?' Glynda thought, urging the redhead to let go of the hug before someone saw them.
From the far off end of the empty arena, two shadowy silhouettes materialised from thin air.
They ominously stood there for good minute, before gaining colour and shape.
One being Natalie, grinned at the woman next to her. The new woman wore a black dress, and had perfect white skin. Her eyes however... Were just black. Even Sclera included, were an abyssal black.
Her naturally black lips managed to stay as emotional as her face was, as she looked on.
"Well, Isn't she something?" Clockwork asked, still in a euphoric bliss, thanks to what she saw her beloved Rose do.
"Well... At least she isn't as annoying as you are" the pale woman sighed.
"Still can't believe I had to use my semblance just so you could watch your pet fight"
"Hey! She's not a pet!" Natalie glared at Jane, who just scoffed in response.
W"Come on, Jane. I know you liked what you saw" she grinned.
"Yeah right" Jane said bluntly.
"Yeah you did. Now, why don't you take her under your wing, and teach her how to use anger?" Clockwork suggested, unable to keep her eyes off Ruby.
Though, Ruby being so close to Goodwitch kinda... ticked her off.
"Are you saying I have anger issues, bitch?" Jane sternly asked. Her voice deepening.
"A little, yes" Natalie chuckled.
"I mean, look. She even wears all black like you!"
"Yeah right... She has better fashion sense than you." Jane spat out.
Natalie growled in frustration, before deciding to pull the trump card.
"Fine... If you are not interested, I guess I'll ask Jeff-" She couldn't even finish her sentence, before Jane interrupted her saying:
"Fine! I'll take her under my wing!" she yelled.
However, her scowling face formed a grin, as she looked back at Ruby. Licking her lips with her inky black tongue, she said:
"Who knows, maybe I'll even have a taste of her"
Welp, that's it for the chapter folks.
Leave your thoughts, as I always take my time to read them.
Also, if there is anything specific you want to see happening on the next chapter, do mention it. I'll try adding them ;)
