Roses And Ashes.

Having regrouped after being split up by the attack from Ultimecia and Cloud of Darkness, the warriors of Cosmos decided to find a safer spot where they could rest up and recover. Cloud, Kain and Squall agreed to keep watch while the rest tried to scramble up some food. The world didn't offer much, but they managed to gather enough to make some soup. Wasn't the best, but better than going around hungry. After eating, those who weren't on watch decided to get some sleep. Blake slept on Y'Shtola's lap, while the Miqo'te was laying on the grass. Yang was sleeping next to Tifa while Weiss was sleeping nearby along with Yuna and Tidus.

But not everyone were sleeping, Firion was trying to until he felt someone tap his arm, he opened his "Ruby? What is going on?".

"I saw something cool. Come on I want to show you" Ruby said a silent but eager tone.

Seeing no reason to refuse, Firion got up and followed Ruby. Cloud looked down at them and Ruby held up one finger to tell him they would be back soon, Cloud gave a small nod and they walked away. They soon reached a hill where something that looked like blue fireflies were buzzing around.

"Look, is it not cool?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah. These flies don't act like normal bugs. It looks more like they are dancing. And there is an aura around them. They must be magical" Firion answered as he looked at the interesting flies.

"Look when I do this" Ruby said as she held out her hand, and the blue bugs began flying around it, like a dance.

Firion held up a finger, and a bug flew around it as well "They are indeed magical. Tell me Ruby, why did you ask me to come and see this? Why not your sister or one of your teammates?".

Ruby was silent for a moment before a faint blush showed up on her "W-well, I know we cleared the air around the incident. But it's hard to forget that I exposed myself to you like that. I am not mad at you for seeing me, I am more mad at myself for making a fool of myself like that. But, I didn't take any time to think about how you might've felt. I really must've embarrassed you just as much as I embarrassed myself. I am such an idiot".

Firon blushed when he remembered the incident but shook his head "I already told you Ruby, I am equally to blame. I shouldn't have just shown up like that without calling out to you".

"But still. You saw everything, I hope my naked body didn't scar you for life" Ruby tried to joke to ease the rising awkwardness.

"It didn't, trust me. Honestly you looked beautiful" Firion said without really thinking and quickly covered his mouth. He hoped Ruby didn't think he was a perv.

"You... think I looked beautiful?" Ruby asked, her blush growing.

Firon wanted to kick himself, but there was no backing out now, Cecil once told him being shy or running away would only make things worse, so he needed to man up for this. So he turned to look at Ruby, gathering all the cuarage he could for what he was about to say.

"Yes... but not just when you aren't wearing clothes. You have a natrual beauty... just like a rose" Firion said, meaning every word.

Ruby wasn't used to being called beautiful. She never spent much time thinking about stuff like that. Still she did use to have a rather romantic view of being a huntress, which she blurted out like a silly child when she met Ozpin. Still, hearing someone call her beautiful was a new feeling... a feeling she didn't mind.

"Thank you... Firion" Ruby said with a smile.

Firion smiled back "You're welcome, Ruby".

They looked at each other for a while, and barely even noticed that they reached out to hold each other's arms. They were so lost in each others' eyes that they didn't notice how close they where getting. Before they knew it, their lips pressed together in to a warm kiss. As they were kissing, the blue fireflies flew around them, making the sight look even more magical.

As they were kissing, Kain showed up, having been sent to see where they went. He got a little annoyed, since this was the second time he had been caught up in a privet matter between those two. Well he decided to do the same thing he did last time: Walk away and not speak a word of what he saw. He just hoped nothing bad came from this.

The next day the group where on the move again. Ruby was in high spirit, a sign she must've slept really well. Firion was smiling at that, relived that their kiss hadn't lead in to another awkward tension between them. Guess their bond had grown stronger than either of them expected.

Ruby suddenly stopped when she saw something "Hey, look".

Everyone walked up and saw a landscape of red crystals and black ground. Lightning narrowed her eyes "Seems like we finally reached one of Chaos' territories".

"What do we do now?" Blake asked.

Yang cracked her knuckles "This could be a good chance to finally teach that Chaos guy a lesson".

"Reckless as it sounds, we do have a good number. And since Chaos' warriors normally travel either alone, or in pairs, we might have the numbers advantage against any potential Chaos warrior we might encounter" Kain said.

"Not like we have the time to go find the other Warriors. Alright, let's go" Lightning declared as everyone began making their way in to the Chaos land, ready for whatever might come.

The place reeked with evil. The ground alone felt like it wanted to kill them. And the crystals were not helping, as evil magic was flaring out of them like a endlessly sparking lamp. And the deeper they walked, the more they could feel it. Evil was here, and unlike the ground and crystals, this evil could attack them at a moment's notice. Something they needed to be prepared for.

Suddenly they heard an evil dark laugh "Warriors of Cosmos. Predictable as always. I was beginning to wonder when you would show yourselves".

Everyone looked and saw a muscular dark red four-armed fiend with wings sprouting from his back and demonic faces on his knees. He has a long tail and several horns, the most prominent of which are two red horns that curve into the air. Chaos wears a loincloth with another face on it, and a red amulet. Evil magic was flowing around him like a small storm, and the warriors of Cosmos could feel it from where they stood.

"Chaos..." Kain said as he held his spear ready.

"How many times do we need to kill you before it sticks?" Lightning demanded.

Chaos chuckled "Foolish warrior. Discord isn't something you can just cut down. As long as it exists, so will I. You can never kill me".

"Don't bet on it!" Ruby said as she took a step towards him, she looked brave but a good eye could tell she was scared "You are nothing but a evil monster who can't see anything other than destruction. We always find a way. And we will stop you! Bet on that!".

Chaos gave her a cruel smile "Oh you are so sure of yourself, little girl. You are a new face, but I have glanced through a window to your world. It is different, with gods of it's own. They've been able to repel me so far. But maybe your link to your world will be the key I need to shatter the barrier and finally enter the new world".

"We are not going to let you do that!" Ruby declared.

"Then kill me if you can" Chaos challenged.

Everyone got ready, drawing their weapons to fight the embodiment of evil. Chaos didn't move, he just smirked at them. Soon all the warriors charged at him. With their superior numbers, they should have a good chance of holding their own against Chaos... but Chaos took a breath before letting out a roar, which also sent a wave of dark magic at the warriors of cosmos. Unable to dodge in time, the heroes were hit and were suddenly frozen in place, unable to move.

"I... I can't move!" Yang struggled to get out.

"What the hell did he do?!" Noctis demanded.

Chaos laughs "Fools. You dare to believe you could fight me in your current state? Your foolishness knows no limit. You are no worthy of my time. But I know some people that are more than eager to meet you".

Chaos focused his power and the Warriors of Cosmos began to sink through some portals. Everyone tried to reach for each other but their bodies still refused to obey them. The last one Ruby saw was Firion who looked at her with desperate eyes as she tired with all his might to move so he could help her.

"FIRION!" Ruby shouts as she vanished in to the portal.

"RUBY!" Frion shouted back before he was dragged down himself.

Chaos laughs "Your move, Cosmos".

Somewhere else, Ruby fell out of the portal, which closed behind her. She looked around and noticed she was in some kind of cave. It almost looked like somekind of arena. But why would Chaos send her here? Her answer came with the sound of an all to familiar voice.

"Ruby Rose, at last" Ruby turned around and her worries were confirmed.

"Cinder..." She whispered.

Ruby's most hated enemy, the woman who killed Pyrrha, caused the destruction of Beacon and shattered Ruby's team. She was now face to face with Cinder once again. And she looked just as deceitful and evil as she did back then. If only Ruby saw through her act sooner, things could've been different.

"I have waited a long time for this, Ruby. Finally, I will get to kill you" Cinder said, her tone calm and full of hate.

Ruby glared as she held up Crescent Rose "I defeated you before Cinder. I will do it again".

"I have not forgotten what you did to me that night. But you would be an idiot if you believe I am the same woman I was back then" Cinder said with a deadly glow in her eye.

"You haven't changed a bit, if anything you are an even bigger monster than you were back then. But I have changed too. I see you for who and what you are now. And this time I will stop you before you hurt anyone else" Ruby declared.

Cinder chuckled darkly "You haven't changed either. Still the naive little girl who thinks she is a big hero. Not sure how you can still believe that given how badly you failed".

Ruby tightens her grip around her weapon "Shut up and fight!".

Cinder smirked "With pleasure".

Cinder created a pair of blades and the two mortal enemies stared each other down. Their fated battle had finally arrived. And both knew only one of them would walk away from it alive. Ruby was not a killer, but she was not naive enough to believe that Cinder could be saved. Cinder wasn't even human anymore, she was just a monster, no different from the grimm. Ruby had no other choice: She had to put her down for good.

With that, both warriors charged at each other, screaming at the top on their lungs. The battle, had begun.

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Surprise! This story is not dead!

I really tried to not add romance to the story. Trust me, I really did try to avoid it. But in the end, I just couldn't help myself.

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Anyway, tell me what you think.