A/N

Eeeeep! The new trailer just dropped! (Well, I think it's more of a teaser or a sneak peek, but still!) I'm so excited!

Neo is one petty little gremlin, and I love her.

CHAPTER 12

Dragonheart tries her best to look unaffected. She's not meant to do that. She's meant to shout at the unfairness of it all, break and punch and kick something, spit at Blake about her revenge.

Instead, Dragonheart looks down. A small "okay" is all she says.

She's accepted her fate, Blake realises. Something twists in her insides. This is wrong.

And Blake tried. She tried with all her might. Just this afternoon, she took a bottle of Ramelteon to take a quick nap and go up against the king himself. Everyone looked at her as though she was insane, because she was. No one should come up to the king unannounced and demand things from him.

She had no other choice, though.

King Adam's face was unreadable due to his mask. Blake thinks she saw a hint of irritation from him. "Please, your highness," she said, before he could tell her to stop bowing. "What you are doing—it is a mistake."

"Kings don't make mistakes."

"Everyone makes mistakes." She looked at him and clasped her hands. "I beg of you. Please."

He cocked his head. "No."

It bothered her, the way he said it with such ease. "Your highness—"

He raised a hand, and her mouth clamped shut. "I understand that you feel the need to prove your hard work hasn't gotten to waste. It must've taken all of your willpower to have Dragonheart at your mercy and not end her life." His hand lowered and tapped against the armchair. "However, people have gotten restless, knowing that we are keeping such a vile beast within our castle grounds. You must know that, do you?"

Blake hesitated. "Yes, but Dragonheart's no mere enemy. She's the princess of Vale. Surely, we can make use of this."

His head tilted to the side, and his mask tilted alongside it. "The thought occurred to me, yes, but we need to send a message. We need Vale to know that we are not to be messed with."

He was right. Of course he was. Every day, more and more people grew anxious, asking her what they were to do with Dragonheart. They were scared. It was understandable. Even if they shouldn't be. Then again, satin-wearing Grimm is still Grimm.

"We've been losing more battles than we have winning them," he added. "Executing Dragonheart in front of the public would be a great morale boost for Menagerie." He smiled. "We could even throw in a feast to celebrate."

A party. For the death of an seventeen-years-old girl.

Blake returned the smile. "That sounds lovely."

Nothing is lovely now. Not with Dragonheart muttering about a call she needs to make, and leaving the room before Blake can respond.

For one quick second, Blake wants to reach out.

Blake should give her her privacy. It's obvious that she needs it.

But she can't. She has to see, has to hear, has to know. Is Dragonheart as evil as everyone makes it out to be? If she isn't, what does that mean?

You know full well what it means, she tells herself, walking with her steps lighter than air, courtesy of her stealth missions. Dragonheart is leaning against the wall, on the corner of the hallway, with the sun illuminating her side from the window.

Blake retreats to her room, leaning against the other side of the wall. This close, she can hear Dragonheart as she takes a deep inhale. Silence, then: "Hey, Ruby, it's me, Yang. Obviously, you know that, so, uh—"

Halt.

"Ruby, listen, don't hang up on me, okay? I just wanna—"

Silence again. If Blake strains her ears, she may be able to hear Dragonheart uttering curses. Then, in a louder voice: "I'm sorry, Ruby." Pause. "For everything."

More silence.

"I know," Dragonheart says. "I know, Rubes. And I'm sorry. I should've done better, but I didn't. I never have." Pause. Then, in a stronger voice: "No, Ruby, don't. You did nothing wrong, okay? All of this is my fault, so don't… Never blame yourself. Ever. If you wanna blame someone, blame me."

But that's not true, is it?

It's her fault, not Dragonheart's.

"I'm sorry, Ruby," she says, "I can't tell you why." Pause. "No, it's—it's complicated, okay?" Another pause. "I know. I know it is, but I can't. I really, really want to, but I can't."

Silence again.

Blake blinks too many times, knuckles brushing against the apple of her cheek.

"No reason," Dragonheart says. "It's just, well, I miss your voice, is all."

Silence. A heavy breath, then, footsteps.

When Dragonheart reenters the room, Blake has her back to her, facing down the paper, scribbling random words, not even using the Earth's alphabet. "You need anything?"

Blake tilts her head to her direction, not trusting herself to speak.

"For Goodwitch's thing, I mean."

Blake shakes her head.

"Alright, then."

The door closes. Footsteps, fading out.

Blake presses the pen so hard against the paper ink bleeds everywhere.

Another door creaks open down below—the one to her exit. Then, it closes with a thump.

Blake rushes down the stairs, jumping the last three steps, then slamming the door open. "Dragonheart, wait!"

Dragonheart spins on her heels, snarling as though Blake is a satin-wearing Grimm. "What is it now? You wish to mock me? Spit on me? Give me your victory speech? Well, you've done it!" She throws her arms wide, laughing in the empty street. "Congratulations, Shadow!" She says, her Earth accent returning. "You did it! You fucking did it!"

The wind blows on their hair. Blake holds Dragonheart's gaze. It pains her, but she has to, if she wants Dragonheart to believe her. "Tomorrow. After the first bell."

Dragonheart's face becomes a blank slate, which is worse than her snarl. Still, Blake looks at her, letting Dragonheart see for herself the realness in Blake's words.

"You'll be betraying your kingdom."

"I'll be betraying my king."

One second turns to five, and five seconds turn to ten. Dragonheart leaves without a word, and Blake stands there for ten more seconds. What are you doing, Blake?

She doesn't know. But she does know she has to do it. Even if it costs her everything she's worked for.

She wouldn't be able to live with herself otherwise.

A/N

Also, yes, I know, short chapter's short, but...

Actually, I can't think of a reason other than "it's got a good ending", so, yeah.

See you guys on Friday! (Or Saturday, depending on where you live.)