A/N: I figured I wouldn't be able to satisfy ALL of Ruby's adventure while the others are back in Beacon. SO I did it all it one chapter! At least what was needed to get to the present events and the beginning of The Vital Festival Tournament
After this I will be working on the next chapter of Wilt and Blush
So Poke
Crimson Stripped Flowers
It was a restless night sleep as the hero stayed up pondering the mysteries of the inhabitants of this quaint little cottage.
At least that's what Ruby wish she had done. In reality she didn't even remember her head hitting the pillow. Go figure that physical exhaustion mixed with an emotional roller-coaster in a body that was still trying to recover did not lead to a 'totally awake' state.
The next morning Ruby woke to the sound of clashing weapons followed by a groan. Ruby moved toward the small window. The noise was louder, but the small window looked out the side of the house. It sounded like the clashing was coming from the back of the house.
Ruby tested the door and found it unlocked. Slipping into the hallway still in her nightclothes she made her way slowly down the hall. She tried to be quiet, but it seemed the more she tried, the more her brain focused on the creaking floor and the sound of her breath.
She finally made it to the front door. She put on some small house shoes that were by the door. They fit her perfectly. Slipping outside, she went around the side of the house, passing the window she had looked out from minutes ago. She heard loud panting.
"Again!" A forceful voice said. It was obviously female, but it was strong, experienced. "Do you think your enemies will wait for you to rest?! Again!"
Ruby stuck her head out just far enough so she could see past the side of the house. In the clearing before the forest was what looked like a training area. Several targets were set up on trees showing obvious use. Several of the trees themselves showed battle scars. The most prominent of the training devices being four straw dummies, two of which showed fresh cuts.
Jade and Jasmine were in the clearing facing each other with Pearl sitting on the ground closer to the house, watching intently. Jade had two daggers, one in each hand while Jasmine had a small knife that reminded Ruby of a surgical knife.
Jade came in with a side strike going for Jasmine's arm. It looked like she was planning on nocking away the scalpel. Jasmine didn't even flinch as the dagger struck, filling the clearing with an audible clash of steal. Ruby expected the weapon to break or at least be thrown away. There was no way a blade so small and sharp could stand that kind of damage.
The scalpel stayed in place, holding the dagger back. "Is that all you have left? Such a pity. Such a….disappointment" Jasmine snickered before Pushing Jade off her feet with just the force of the scalpel.
Jade got up quicker this time, her panting breaths showing they had been at this for a while, confirmed by Pearl yawning and setting her chin on her fist, looking bored.
"Again! Faster this time! I could see you coming from halfway across Remnant" Jasmine snapped lowering the scalpel.
Jade threw herself at Jasmine, slashing with intent that shocked Ruby. Jade went for the throat. Jasmine barely moved her head, just enough for the dagger to miss.
"Not fast enough" Jasmine used the back of her hand, smashing it into Jade's back.
Jade yelped in pain crashing to the ground, immediately throwing her tail up towards Jasmine. The tail was wrapped around one of the handles of her daggers as it thrust towards Jasmine.
Jasmine leaned back on an angle that must have hurt without moving her feet. "Typical" Jasmine grabbed the tail with her right hand making pain shoot through Jade as Jasmine pulled the tail hard, making it drop the dagger.
Jasmine looked down as she pulled. Jade had grabbed one of her legs and gritting her teeth used the momentum from Jasmine pulling her tail to grab the dagger and slash at Jasmine's stomach. Jasmine went to move her leg but was held back by Jade.
The slash went through, but was shallow, and to Ruby's surprise saw a small trickle of blood coming out of the cut.
Jasmine frowned before grabbing Jade's face with her left hand, which now was empty even though Ruby didn't see what happened to the knife, and smashed it into the dirt. Jade's hand fell from Jasmine's leg.
Jasmine stepped back looked down at Jade. "Get up. We are not done."
Ruby knew something was up. Jasmine was so intense! This is not the same person that talked to her in the house. It couldn't be the woman who used her aura to help heal some of Ruby's aches and pains. No, this woman was harsher and had experience in battle. Plus she was hurt! Should she do something? Ruby wasn't sure.
It took Jade a while but she got up, wobbling as she found her footing. Jade had scratches all over her face. Where Jasmine had gripped and pulled her tail the blood coated her fur, turning it a dark red. Even then, she was smirking, obviously happy.
Jasmine kept her frown "And what are you so happy about?"
Jade chuckled. "I got you. I made you bleed. That means you can be defeated. It proves I am ready."
"Not yet your not" Jasmine had a quick smile before looking over at Pearl.
Ruby quickly hid her head back behind the house. She could still hear them.
"Pearl, tell me what Jade did wrong."
"Mooom, this is boring! Can't I go play?"
"Tell me what she did wrong and you can"
Ruby heard shuffling which sounded like Pearl getting up from the ground.
"Big sis overextended her tail and should have gone for your leg, especially since she already was holding it." Pearl's little voice squeaked out. "Plus you could have killed her seventy different ways before she countered"
That was...unsettling
"I taught you well. Fine, go play-"
"Yay!"
Ruby heard Pearl running off. Since she didn't pass Ruby, Ruby assumed she went a different way.
"Don't cause any trouble" Jade yelled out earning a giggle from the little girl.
Ruby went to look back towards the yard.
"I swear that girl calling me 'big sis' is annoying. And I am ready!"
"You know you love it. I will decide when you are ready."
"You are holding me ba-"
Ruby accidentally kicked a rock while moving her feet. One of Jade's daggers sunk into the small rock, splitting it in two.
"Who's there!? Come out!" Jade yelled
"Jade!" Jasmine scolded going back to the voice she used when talking to Ruby "You are being rude again! Ruby, you can come out. Its safe."
Ruby stepped out from the side of the house and picked up the dagger. Jasmine was smiling while Jade was scowling. Ruby walked to them, holding the dagger down. Jade looked between Ruby and her dagger, tensing. Ruby did not miss the fact that one of her hands went to the back of her hip, where she kept her first dagger. Ruby held up the dagger, pointing it at Jade.
Ruby saw Jade shift her weight down, ready for an attack. Ruby looked at Jasmine. She seemed content. She stood there smiling. Ruby flipped the dagger around with her hand holding the end of the handle toward Jade.
"Your hurt" Ruby said looking over at Jasmine.
Jasmine lifted up the bottom of her shirt, where the fabric was cut by the dagger. There was a small trail of blood around the cut, but as Ruby watched the blood disappeared along with the cut it came from.
"All better" Jasmine said.
"Take it" Ruby said snapping back to Jade, having a hard time holding up the dagger with her hurt arm. Jade flinched at her voice. Jade grabbed the handle and took her dagger back, sheathing it on her left side, but never taking her eyes off of Ruby. Ruby stared back, not glaring like Jade but not backing down from her challenging eyes.
Jasmine clapping her hands brought them out of the staring match. "I am so glad you two are getting along-" That had Jade raising an eyebrow "-but I think we should go inside. Jade you need a bath, and I don't think Ruby should be walking around in those clothes."
Ruby only now remembered that she was only in a small shirt and shorts. Ruby went red before semblencing back into the house, leaving a laughing Jasmine and confused Jade in her wake.
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Jasmine came into Ruby's room about an hour later. Jasmine clearly had had a bath. "Ruby, I think its time to take off those bandages and work on your eye.
Ruby put her right hand up, lightly touching the bandaged padding that covered her right eye. She was eager, but conflicted. She wished her eye was just already healed like her leg, the thin scar that ran down it being a constant reminder. Her arm was still bandaged. "Can, can we start with my arm first? It still aches, but it doesn't hurt anymore.
Jasmine smiled again, "Sure sweety"
That smile reminded Ruby of the was Pyrrha smiled at reporters. Ruby held out her arm. Jasmine grabbed it and unrolled the bandages. There was a large jagged cut that ran down the inside of Ruby's arm from the middle of her bicep going down to her wrist. Like a jagged twisting snake.
"Tell me if this hurts okay?" Ruby nodded as Jasmine's hands began to glow. She touched the top of the wound and slowly moved down it. Where she touched the wound closed and scared. The ache was still there but there was no big pain.
"There we go" Jasmine panted as if she was out of breath, "Now for the eye" Ruby let Jasmine take off the bandages and the cloth. Before Jasmine could touch her to heal her Ruby stepped back and went over to the mirror. Jasmine actually looked a little relieved to have a small rest.
Ruby looked into the mirror with her left eye. Her right eye was a mess. The entirety of her eye socket was black and blue. Inside where her eye should be was blackened crusty blood. There was no eyelid. Ruby couldn't see her silver eye, nor could she even see the white around it. It was a black hole that spoke of hardship and screamed of death.
Ruby walked back over towards Jasmine and sat on the bed, Jasmine quickly sitting next to her, hugging her closely.
"It will be better soon." Jasmine said with confidence and care.
"Will it?" Ruby asked looking at Jasmine.
"I will do my best." Jasmine smiled. This time it reminded Ruby of Yang smiling at her. It was warmer. She knew Jasmine was speaking the truth.
Once again Jasmine pushed a glowing hand toward Ruby. Ruby felt Jasmines hand on her forehead. "I'm not going to deny, this will hurt. Bare with it"
Ruby felt a warm sensation. It got hot, then felt like burning. Ruby heard something pop and she let out a scream. Her aura flared and she felt Jasmine fight through her aura trying to surround her eye. The burning came back as Ruby felt the fire lance into her skull. She knew she was screaming now.
Ruby closed her other eye and felt a power build up behind it. When she opened her eye a bright light came out blinding Jasmine and making her fall off the bed.
Ruby was panting. So was Jasmine.
"I've done all I can" Jasmine said in between ragged breaths.
Ruby got up and walked over to the mirror again. She had a normal eyebrow and eyelid. It had a scar that ran down her eye, almost like Weiss's scar. When Ruby opened her new eyelid she was shocked. Her eye was back, but it was different. Her sclera was back and white like normal, but the middle of her eye where her pupil should be reminded her of a snake. It was scar tissue that stretched her silver iris from the top of her eye to the bottom. Ruby could move it around like a normal eye, but there was still one problem.
She still couldn't see.
Pain from loss raced through her heart. Jasmine tried. She said it would be better and it was. But not even the best healing could heal her scars apparently. They would stay with her.
A yell suddenly went through the house snapping Ruby out of her thoughts. Jasmine who was on the floor panting suddenly jumped up and ran out the door. Ruby heard a crash and a yelp and hurried out the door.
Ren was in the hall holding the shattered end of a glass, holding it at Jade's throat who must have been caught off guard because there was shock in her eyes.
Jasmine stood in the hallway, no longer panting, staring down Ren. Ruby didn't know where she got it, but Jasmine had her surgical knife in her left hand.
Jasmine spoke in her experienced voice, "Let her go or you will regret it"
"Where am I!? Who are you!? Where is Ruby!?" Ren looked down at Jade before a look of recognition passed his face. "No, it can't be"
Ruby saw Jasmine slightly step forward. She went up to Jasmine before something could happen. "Ren. I'm okay. These people helped us." Ren's eyes snapped to Ruby as she spoke.
Jade eyed Ruby, still with the broken glass to her throat.
Ren relaxed slightly. "Ruby thank the Brothers-"
Jade grabbed Ren's arm with the glass and kicked Ren's bad leg, making him yell and fall down. Jade threw the glass away and pinned Ren's arms behind his back on the floor. Jade coiled her tail around Ren's bad leg causing Ren to yelp in pain.
"Don't hurt him!" Ruby said in concern. She moved to go over to Ren, but Jasmine stopped her, pulling some string out of nowhere that Ruby could see. Jasmine tied Ren's arms together, picked him up as he struggled against the binding and put him back on the bed.
"Quit struggling! Jasmine commanded still using her experienced voice. I will fix your leg but you need to stop!"
Jade stayed in the hall, rubbing the side of her neck that Ren pushed the broken glass into. She walked away when Ruby approached, going into another room further down the hall.
Ruby went up to the door and watched as Jasmine set her hand aglow like she had when she healed Ruby. As soon as she touched Ren he screamed and pulled his leg away.
Jasmine scowled which surprised Ruby. "Ruby come hold him down! I can't work like this!"
Ruby flinched but quickly came over and grabbed Ren. Ren stilled before grabbing Ruby's cheek lightly. "What happened to your eye?" Before Ruby could answer Ren winced in pain. All the color drained from his face. Ruby could feel Ren's semblence kick in and flow through her as well. Ren calmed as the all the negative physical and emotional pain faded away.
Ruby felt great. She had never felt so good. She was confident and didn't feel stress. All the pain? What pain? No, she only felt energy flow around and through her. It strengthened her and caused her to shudder with excitement.
"Ruby?" She was pulled away from Ren's touch by Jasmine. Instantly the aches came back. The stress. The possibility of death. The pain of loss.
"No! Ruby pushed Ren's hand back to her face, but the power was gone. As soon as Ruby had been pulled away Ren had shut his eyes and fallen asleep.
"Ruby!" Jasmine said again. Ruby noticed that Jasmine was back to her sweet voice. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yea, I'm fine" Ruby got off the bed and looked at Ren's leg. It had a large scar going down it. The scar was much larger than any of Ruby's scars. "Is that permanent?"
Jasmine sighed looking very tired. She had dark bags underneath her eyes. "I was never as good fixing men as I was fixing women. It might get smaller, but not by much. He will live with it for the rest of his life"
Jasmine tried to walk out of the room, but she almost fell down. Ruby caught her. Jasmine chuckled, "To think this wore me out this much. Its been too long since I have done large wounds." Under Jasmines direction Ruby helped her walk down the hallway, finally going through a door opposite of Jade's room.
Jasmine's room looked plain and normal. It almost looked like noone lived there. The only sign that she did was the custom fabric sheets. They were white and red. With the red in a circle but before Ruby could see the design Jasmine had pushed the covers against the wall and laid down in the bad. "Thank you Ruby. There is one more thing I must ask of you. I was supposed to go into town tonight with Jade. Can you accompany her? I don't want her going alone"
"I will"
"Thank you. Tell her to get the usual, she will understand" Jasmine fell asleep in front of Ruby. Ruby quickly shut the door as she left, not wanting to disturb her.
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Ruby thought going into town was going to be easy. She forgot that she had the equivalent of a paranoid Weiss going with her. Jade was not happy when Ruby said she wanted to go with her. She was even more unhappy when Ruby told her it was Jasmine's idea.
That brought them to where they were now. A very curious Ruby looking down the wooded path next to a Jade that was carrying an empty backpack. The light of the sun was going down, casting the path with streaks of reds and yellows.
"-Now do you understand?" Jade stressed as Ruby snapped back at the last word.
"Yes, I get it. So yea, we're good right?"
Jade looked unconvinced, "Maybe. Tell me what I have been explaining to you since we left the house and I will believe you."
Ruby tried to recall. "Uh dah, umm. You said some things about the town….and then asked me if I understood….right?"
"You have no idea what I said, do you"
Ruby hid a smile, "Nope".
Jade smacked her face. "Look. I still don't fully trust you, but you did save me. As much as it would be typical of someone to go missing in town, Jasmine would kill me. So listen and do as I say!"
That didn't bode well but made sense. This was out of Vale's protection area. People must have it hard here. "Okay, fine. What do I do?"
"Don't touch anything. Don't talk to anyone. And for Brother's sake do not. I repeat not! Tell someone you are a huntress."
"But I'm not. I am still in training."
Jade sighed, "The people you will see do not care about the difference."
Ruby didn't like it. It didn't make sense. They were going to a town on the frontier! They should be happy to see a huntress. Hunters and huntresses protect people. Keep people safe. No way people would hate her….Though earlier Jasmine had said the same hadn't she?
Jade looked at Ruby. "Okay the town is just over this next ridge. One last question for you. Can you see out that eye?"
"Ruby put her hand up to her recently healed right eye. "No. It feels better. I can feel it move, touch it, but I can't see anything out of it"
Jade looked away. "Well that throws a wrench in one of my plans, but we'll have to survive without it" The walked over the ridge and Ruby was stunned at the appearance. "Welcome to Brightmarble"
The town, if can even be called a town, looked more like a fortress. From the hill Ruby could see that it had a large white wall that encompassed large buildings that looked like towers, with a castle in the middle. The dazzling white walls had several guard towers on it, and though they were too far away to pick out individuals, Ruby could see groups of what she assumed were guards running back and forth on the walls.
"Found out it was originally the training grounds for city guards around Mountain Glenn. When that fell, it became a city all its own."
"It's beautiful"
"Some of it is. Look to the right of the wall"
Ruby looked, trying to see what Jade was pointing out. To the left of the wall there was several wooden houses that stretched and expanded out from the major road that lead out of Brightmarble. It was small, but Ruby could tell it held a substantial amount of people. It was kinda what Ruby expected to see before the city came into view. "It looks like a small outpouring of people from the city. What is it?"
Jade stared pulling Ruby down towards Brightmarble, "That is the original Brightmarble, called that because of the marble deposits that are found here."
As they got closer Ruby could see they were going towards the left. Closer she could see the old town was more thrown together with a couple of good buildings mixed in between. Ruby saw faunus of all different types. Some were laying down on the side of the road, while other milled around. Most looked downtrodden and sick.
"This place also holds ninety-eight percent of the faunus population in Brightmarble." Jade scowled as they continued into the destroyed town. "Humans call it 'The Zoo', we call it Trube, for 'True Brightmarble' since this section was build before the human section was built and walled off"
This wasn't right. Couldn't be right. She could see what amounted to an oasis on the other side of the walls from the ridge. Surely the people living here wanted to help these people. Right? Ruby saw other signs that set her off as well. Some of the ruined houses had grimm markings on them, not offering her with very much hope on how infrequent attacks were.
What broke her the most was how many faunus children there were. One that threatened to break Ruby the most was a child no older than Pearl laying in a gutter with flies circling her. Ruby tried to ignore it as much as she could, but if it weren't for Jade grabbing Ruby's hand and leading her away, Ruby would have fallen down.
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They made it to a small shop with a broken sign saying 'General Goods' above the door. Jade lead her inside passing several small racks of discount clothing and old magazines to a front desk with a middle aged man behind it.
The man had a mustache and a large belly that suggested he lived differently from those outside, though some of the older—even outdated—merchandise he had labeled 'new' told Ruby not that much different. He looked human, the only thing giving him away is the small horns growing out of his head.
The man looked up from something he was placing under the table. "Well if it isn't Jade! And you brought a friend this time I see."
Jade smiled, "Hello Bezl. Yes, this is my friend Ruby. She's going to be staying with me for a little bit." Jade passed her a look. "But not too much longer"
Ruby thought she saw a twinkle in Bezl's eye. "Ah, so she was the reason for the special order of yours. Items that expensive, she must be someone special."
Jade gave a small smile. "You could say that"
"Well I'm sorry, but I'm all out of that. Went bad this morning I'm afraid. That stuff isn't as hardy as the usual stock"
"That's fine. Today I just want the normal supply. You have that right?"
Bezl laughed. "For my greatest customer!? Of course." The man opened the door leading to what Ruby assumed was storage. "Jeffrey! Jeffrey, get out here!" After waiting a bit Bezl shook his head. "That boy, never around when you need him."
Jade walked up to the back door. "I can go get it if you want me too. I know your back isn't what it used to be. You trust me, right?"
Bezl laughed a hearty laugh, "Your right about my back. Things been acting up for weeks. Yea go get your things. They should be in the normal spots."
Jade gave Ruby another look before disappearing behind the swinging door. Ruby walked up to the counter and waited a little bit before noticing Bezl was staring at her oddly.
"Is there something wrong?" Ruby asked. No way she had screwed up Jade's rules already right? She couldn't be found out at a glance, that would just be bad luck right? No way the tattered clothes that Jasmine somehow 'healed' back together automatically gave her away as a huntress right? She even left her restored ammo belt and baby at the cottage!
Bezl smiled, "I'm sorry I've just never seen a faunus trait quite like yours. Don't see many reptilians around these parts, let alone a hybrid one eye."
Oh! Her eye. Yea that did make sense. Jade had covered the rest of the scar in makeup, but her eye did look snake-like. "Oh no, I'm human…." Wait why did she say that!? Some automatic reflex? Maybe she should have paid more attention to Jade and her rules.
Bezl's eyes grew wide, "Well fancy that" he said with a smile. "I never expected a human to come into my store. My little old store. I am glad to have met you, and thank you for coming, let me-"
A crash as the door to the front of the shop opened suddenly. A small boy with feathers on his arms and covered in bruises came running in holding fire dust crystals. Ruby wasn't an expert, but those crystals looked fresh, new.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I'll make it up to you!"
Bezl cursed under his breath. "Jeffrey! Your right you will make it up to me! You're supposed to help me with inventory! I can't have you running off when we have customers!"
The small boy looked scared. "I'm sorry sir. I'll do better next time I swear!"
Bezl grimaced, "You better! One more slip up and there won't be a next time! Understand?! Now go help Jade get her stuff!"
The boy paled even further that he already was, "I-I-Yes sir!" The young boy in a burst of tears and speed ran through the back door.
"Kids these days. I know I must be getting old because this is not how I acted when I was his age...and now I sound like my father." Bezl sighed, "Brothers rest his soul"
There was a moment where Bezl seemed to be in his own little world. Ruby didn't know what to do, so she decided to speak on the only thing she could actually hold a conversation about. "He was carrying huntsman grade dust crystals."
Bezl seemed to snap out of his daze. He was back to studying Ruby. "A human that knows different grades of dust? Even I knew that those were some good dust crystals, but I couldn't classify them with just a glance. But you did"
Uh oh. She might not have thought this through. Ruby remembered Jade telling her not to let people find out she was human. Scratch that mission as failed. She also remembered both Jade and Jasmine telling her to not talk about her...occupation.
"You're a huntress ain'tcha?"
Time to do damage control. "No, I'm not!" She said that a little too hastily. "I just want to be one day, you know. Saving people, helping people, that is my goal." As she spoke Ruby went from the anxious girl trying to stop a misunderstanding to someone proud of what they believe in. With a smile and this newfound confidence she continued, "My mother was a huntress. She taught me what loving someone meant. It means you'll do anything to protect them." Her smile dropped a little "She's gone now" The smile came back, "But I will make her goals a reality"
The shopkeeper stood there mouth agape at the speech. After she was done and he saw the confidence on her face, his split with a big smile. "Well I'll be. For a minute there I was speechless young lady. I believe you, and I dare say anyone that heard you would. Not only beautiful but full of hope and love….You know what you deserve something"
Ruby, who was blushing at the comments was now back to being anxious, "No, you don't have to". She saw the man pull out a candy jar. He pushed his hand into it and pulled out what looked like a chocolate ball. Ruby's mouth watered. It had been soooo long since she had sweets. "Is that chocolate?" She said drooling a little.
Bezl smiled and chuckled. "Yes mame, the best of the best. Took me a while to get it too. Chocolate ball with a strawberry jam core, straight from the coast of menagerie."
Ruby knew she was drooling now. Exotic chocolate and strawberries!? It was a dream come true. It wasn't a dream right? Couldn't be. And he's handing it to me. WHAT!?
"Take it. My gift to someone who may protect use in the future. Not everybody can say they are friends with a human huntress, and I will happily take that title."
"Thanks", Ruby said still looking at the ball, wanting to tear it open right now.
"Save it for later. But don't let anyone else take it. That's your reward. Not everyone carries our hopes and dreams for the future"
Ruby put it into her pocket nodding as Jade came back out, the backpack now noticeably full.
"Thank you for having what I needed, though the supplies were not where they were last time I had to get them." Jade put some lien on the counter-top.
Bezl scrached the back of his head, "Sorry about that. I was thinking it was taking you longer than usual, here" He pushed some of the lien back over to Jade, Jade herself looking at Bezl suspiciously, "For the trouble, and for introducing me to your lovely friend here. It seems my business has a future after all. She gave me hope"
Jade narrowed her eyes and took the lien before staring at Ruby. "Yes, unfortunatly we have to go now before it gets too late" Jade grabbed Ruby by the hand, practically pulling Ruby out of the shop into the now dark night.
They heard a chuckle from behind them. "Enjoy the food, and get home safe."
The door shut behind them.
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Once they were out of the shop, Ruby was surprised at how the town had changed. She could barely see the road in front of her through her one eye, the only reprieve being wayward guards that wandered through the main road. She expected to see more guards than she saw.
Jade was practically dragging her down the street away from the shop. "Wait...Jade stop." Ruby was tripping over her own feet in the darkness. Jade kept going, but when Ruby stepped over a rock and almost fell down Jade finally relented. "Jade. What's with the rush?"
Ruby cold make out Jade's figure as her eye started to adjust to the darkness. Jade, well….she didn't look happy.
"What did you say to him?"
"Bezl? Not much...why?"
"Did you remember the rules I told you? Did he find out anything?"
Did he fin out I was human...nah. Did he find out I am a huntress? Defiantly not right?
"He found out everything didn't he" Jade deadpanned.
Ruby put up her hands, "~Maybe?~" Jade just kept staring at Ruby with her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. "Okay, yea he figured me out"
"Ruby! I thought you would be better than that. There are reasons you don't talk about certain things here. Its not safe to do so!"
"But Bezl seemed okay. He didn't mind that I was human and even when he found out I want to be a huntress-"
"You told him about that too!? Did he give you something!"
Though they were the same height Ruby felt Jade tower over her as she slumped. "I'm—I'm sor-"
Someone grabbed the end of Ruby's cape. Looking down Ruby saw two small children. They were probably younger than Pearl. One was a boy and the other a girl. They wore what looked like old potato sacks for clothes and were shaking, one had reptilian skin while the other had small ram horns. "Please mame, can you spare some food?"
Ruby looked to Jade, who just stood there before looking back at the children and smiling. Ruby took the small ram boy's hands off of her cloak. Their gaze looked down heartbroken as she moved closer to Jade knowing they would get nothing. They lit back up when Ruby opened the sack of supplies on Jade's back. Jade Made no move to stop her, nor to help. Ruby pulled out two bags that looked like training rations from the pack, thinking they would be better than salted meat or chips for the malnourished children. She also gave them some bottles of water.
The children smiled and thanked Ruby as she handed them more than they thought. They thought they would get scraps at best. This though, this was a miracle. The boy ran back into the darkness telling the girl to follow him. Before she did she went up and hugged Ruby. "We will never forget your kindness"
Ruby patted the girls head as she hugged her before her face perked up. "One last thing then." Ruby pulled the chocolate ball out of her pocket, handing it to the girl. When the girl read the small wrapper her eyes lit up. "Make sure to share it with your friend okay?"
"Are you really a human?" the small girl asked throwing Ruby off guard.
"I am"
The girl fell back close the edge of Rubies vision in the dark before smiling and shaking her head. "No your not. You are a goddess!" The young girl then scurried away with her treasure.
Jade didn't say anything, but grabbed Ruby's hand again, going slowly this time as they left the town. It looked like she was contemplating what the kids said.
Once they got back to the ridge overlooking the town Jade let her hand go, "Ruby, why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you give those kids our food. That was for my training tomorrow." Seeing the shocked look on Ruby's face, Jade backtracked. "Look, I'm not mad. I just want to know why. You didn't know them. They have done nothing for you, and they never will. They had been watching us for a while and the only reason they approached us is because they noticed you were stumbling in the dark, so you were human. So why?!"
Ruby looked down, almost speaking in a whisper, "I couldn't abandon them. They were two kids starving in front of me asking for food. I would Not be able to live with myself if I didn't give them something. I hope that food might help them, and if nothing help them survive another day"
Jade scoffed, but didn't really have any force behind it, "It should. You've done your good deed. If they use it right they might make it last through the week" Ruby saw experience behind Jade's glowing eyes but before she could ask Jade answered. "I haven't always been in a good spot. I've been where they are. Only recently has Jasmine changed my life….I owe her my life"
Ruby hugged Jade, pulling her head down into her chest. Because they were the same height it was awkward, but it was their moment. She started stroking Jade's head like she had the child's. She made sure she went behind her ears which were laying flat on her head, but stuck straight up as Ruby touched her. Jade's tail which usually was down started standing straight up making Ruby smile.
Ruby heard something. It sounded like a low rumbling. Ruby started to chuckle after a couple seconds because she figured out what it was, prompting Jade to jump back away from Ruby, face beat red. "I don't need your sympathy!"
Ruby started giggling again with a smile. "You are strong-hearted too. So adorable and strong" That prompted Jade to get darker in color, and though Ruby couldn't see it she somehow knew that was her reaction, giggling some more. "I just with I had some more chocolate to give you"
Jade humpfed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Not like I would accept anything from you anyway." She stared walking back up the path. Hearing the chucking and giggling Jade added, "Don't tempt me or I will leave you here."
"I'll be quiet" Ruby said. Jade looked mad but her ears and tail which were still straight up gave her away.
Jade slowed a second walking up the path. "Where did you get that chocolate anyway? I didn't put any in the pack"
"Bezl gave it to me after he found out about me. I...may have done an embarrassing speech. He said I gave him 'hope for the future' so he gave me some chocolate. Said it was from Menagerie"
That stopped Jade completely. She had a look on her face that Ruby had never seen before.
"What? Something wrong? Did we forget something?" Ruby asked.
"No, i-its nothing. Lets just get home" Jade went back to her normal pace.
Jade whispered something underneath her breath, but Ruby couldn't hear it. Must be thinking about something. Ruby overlooked Jade's tail falling once again.
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It was an interesting night all things considered. When Jade and Ruby returned they were hungry. Luckily Jasmine was up and had already cooked some venison stew. Growing up in patch in the log cabin she still called home, Ruby had had venison before. It was good.
What surprised but also delighted Ruby was that Ren was also awake and looking better. More of his wounds were healed. Ruby looked at Jasmine, who smiled and nodded before going back to the stew. When Jasmine had them sit down at the table Ruby sat in the middle chair with Ren on her right and Jade deciding to sit on her left. Jasmine sat across from Jade, with Pearl across from Ruby.
Ren was quiet. He did not speak for the first part of the little family get together. Ruby was more concerned that at first every time she heard Ren pick up his silverware Jade and Jasmine tensed up.
Time for the ice breaker. Ruby style! "So...How was everyones' day?" Maybe cliché, but not bad.
Jade just stared at Ruby with a 'really?' look and Jasmine though she was smiling did not say a word. "Oh oh Me! Me! I'll start!" Pearl said with her hand raised. "I went to play in the woods today and I made some really good playmates. We found a stream of the river and hopped over the stones! And one of them caught a fish!
Ruby imagined back when she was little and Yang and their friends from school would go out and place. It was so much more peaceful back then. Life was simpler. "That sounds lovely. I'm glad you and your friends had such a great time today. Maybe I can meet your friends before we go?"
Pearl's grin got bigger, "Maybe Miss Rose would like to meet them tonight?"
Ruby was about to answer when she felt a tap on her leg from Jade. Her eye swiveled over and Jade did a little no shake with her head. Looking back at Pearl who saw the exchange but still looked at Ruby for an answer. "Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow?" Pearl looked satisfied.
Jade stood up suddenly. "I have to go to the bathroom." She looked over at Ruby. "Ruby do you mind coming with me?" Pearl looked confused. Jasmine looked shocked. Ren was indifferent. I mean seriously two girls going to the bathroom. That is all too common.
Jade practically tugged Ruby out of the chair and into the hallway going towards Ruby's room, stopping by the bathroom door that was on the right. "What are you thinking?!" Jade said in a hushed tone.
"What did I do wrong now?" Ruby didn't think she did anything wrong.
"You said you would meet Pearl's friends!"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Pearl and Jasmine don't go into town. They don't know any other people. Expecially not people who would play in the grimm infested woods here!"
Ruby was stumped and confused. "That can't be true. Jasmine told me to go with you today because she was too tired to go with you, and Pearl just said she had friends that she played with."
Jade bit the tip of her finger. "Is that why she wanted you to go with me" Jade thought for a moment. "Stupid old woman, making plans and not telling me" She looked back at Ruby. "Pearl had no friends. I have talked to several of the kids, and watched them play. They stay in town. I have heard several of them talk about the woods as a graveyard. Once your in them, you might as well be six feet under, no way any of them would play with Pearl in the woods."
Ruby was still confused, "But she-"
"Always says that she was playing with her friends in the woods. She goes out into the woods almost everyday for some time. Jasmine never questions her daughter, but I think Pearl wants to have friends, not that she has friends"
Jade saw ruby put on a sad face, even tearing up a little. "That is so sad." The tears went away fast when Ruby got a grin. "Maybe we should introduce her to the town kids! I bet she'd love them!" Jade looked conflicted. "What? What's wrong?"
Jade scratched her head. "I asked Jasmine if I could do that and she got all serious. Said it wasn't possible. When I pried on why she—nothing never mind. Just know it apparently can't be done."
"That's sad, either way. While we are here" Ruby pulled open the bathroom door.
"What are you doing?" Jade asked
Ruby scratched the back of her head. "I sorta have to use the bathroom. Wait for me?"
Jade sighed, "Fine but make it quick. I...gotta go as well"
When they got back Ren stood up, promting stares from all of them. "I have something to say" He bowed his head to Jade who was next to Ruby in the doorway. "I am sorry for attacking you. I was not in the right state of mind." He then turned to Jasmine, "And I thank you for opening your house to us, and healing me. I wouldn't have survived without your help."
"We wouldn't have survived without your help" Ruby said stepping forward.
Jasmine was wary at Ren's words, but she smiled at Ruby and nodded, not saying a word.
Jasmine got up and started to grab the dishes. She grabbed all the plates except for Ren's, who upon noticing this, deposited his plate in the sink and washed it. Jasmine never spoke when Ren was in the room. After Ren washed his dish he went back to his room, saying that he was still tired. Jade and Pearl soon after, Jade saying it was bed time and Pearl sticking her tongue out at her, but still went.
It was just Ruby and Jasmine now. Ruby was tired but wanted to know. "Jasmine?"
"Yes dear?" Jasmine answered rather quietly, speaking in her sweet voice.
"Jade told me that you never go into town with her...so why did you want me to go with her?"
Jasmine squinted her eyes and frowned at Ruby when she spoke but the smile returned when Ruby finished. "Jade has problems with trusting people. She has seen and been through much in her life and has never really had friends. She may be younger than you but I think you being here has given her an understanding that she doesn't always need to be an adult. That it is okay to look up to someone."
Ruby flushed with embarrassment, "I didn't really do all that much"
"On the contrary. Even Pearl can see that Jade has opened up to you, and I thank you for that" Jasmine looked sad. "Jade will never see me as her mother because I am not. She only called me 'mom' when talking to Pearl." She looked at Ruby and smiled, "But I believe even though you have been here for a short amount of time, she already see's you as a big sister" Jasmine pushed Ruby towards the hallway, "Now its late, off to bed. You need your rest because you never know what tomorrow will bring"
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Ruby went to sleep knowing that the time they were spending with this family was coming to an end. Ren could walk now, and he seemed to be in his right state of mind. Half of it being Jasmine and the other the fact that aura was just the bomb. She had a pleasant dream of seeing her team again. Her sister was chastising her about her 'rocky' experience while Blake rolled her eyes and Weiss came up with new no pun rules in the dorm. Then they all went out with team JNPR and had a great time-
Something scraped against wood, forcing Ruby's eyes to go wide as her dream was cut off. At first she was worried she was back in the tunnels and it was all her imagination. She heard a giggle in the darkness and felt a chill in her bones. Her eye adjusted though and scanned the room around her.
Pearl was standing in her room, mist somehow coiled around her feet and she was smiling, looking at Ruby. Normally Pearl was a happy sight, but something about her being in Ruby's room, in the middle of the night, with mist that seems to be coming out of her...unnerved Ruby.
Pearl scrapped something against the wood of the wall, giggled again and then started humming and talking to herself.
"Pearl?" Ruby asked hesitantly.
That seemed to snap the small girl out of her trance-like state. "Oh, Ruby you're awake. I was just talking to my friends. I've had one of them looking out for you. Though you already seem to have a guardian."
Ruby was still half asleep and was now very confused, "What are you talking about?"
Pearl covered her mouth, "Woops I wasn't supposed to tell you that. She told me you were a good person, that's why mama let you stay here in the first place, otherwise we would have left you out there."
Ruby was more awake but still very confused, and just a little bit frightened by that smile she gave Ruby.
Pearl walked towards the bed, the mist seeming to follow her as she went. "Jade isn't like me and mama, we have power, mama says Jade is not ready." It got colder as Pearl approached. Ruby could feel herself shake and teeth chatter. "But the dead lady, Miss Rose wanted to meet my friends, and so did Ruby" Pearl looked directly at her. "Take care of Jade, she is more frail than she looks. Broken, like mama"
Pearl went rigid. Her eyes went wide. "NO!" Pearl suddenly screamed, then hunched over crying. Ruby heard someone running down the hall calling Pearl's name. Jade slammed the door to the room open, running in and grabbing Pearl who was now in a ball on the floor sobbing.
"What is it?!" Jade looked toward Ruby suspiciously "What happened!?"
Jasmine came in as Ruby still laid on the bed, now more in shock than anything.
Pearl looked up from in Jade's arms, seeing Jasmine. "The darkness is here!" She wiggled out of Jade's arms and ran to Jasmine, wrapping her in a hug. "The darkness is here! And where it goes, they will follow. They cry!" Pearl seemed to faint.
Jasmine grabbed Pearl as she fell. "Jade, Ruby!" Jasmine said in her commanding voice, "Get dressed and get to town. It's being attacked!"
Jade looked determined but also confused, "How do you know?"
Jasmine looked down at Pearl, "She just told us"
Jade ran out past Jasmine to get dressed, while Ruby understanding the severity, jumped out of bed. Jasmine left with Pearl while Ruby got dressed. Jasmine had apparently fixed Ruby's clothes, so she threw her combat gear on.
Walking out of the room Ruby ran into Jasmine and Jade. Both were dressed in the training garbs they wore that morning.
Jasmine held out out a blade for Ruby. It was a normal double sided longsword. "I figured you could use a weapon"
Ruby heard a thumping at Ren's door and a crash. "Why is my door locked!? What was that scream!? What's going on!?"
Jasmine frowned, "Your friend will stay here for now. He may be healed, but not fully, plus I don't trust him yet. Get going, the town needs you both.
Jade looked at Jasmine. "Am I ready?"
Jasmine looked back at Jade with a small smile, "Make me proud, and you will be"
Jade smiled and nodded. Pulling Ruby along, they ran out into the night
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Jade kept hold of Ruby as they ran into the night. Ruby remembered the path so it wasn't all that hard to find her footing as the shattered moon lite up the night. As they got closer they saw smoke and fires rising into the sky. They stopped on the ridge to see the damage. Swarms of grimm, mostly beowolfs and ursa ran through the town, breaking down buildings. A few faunus had taken up arms against them and were fighting back, but they were loosing ground. Ruby saw a crowd of faunus huddled by the closed gate on the walls, crying and screaming. The guard on the walls killed grimm that got close to the walls but made no effort to open the large doorway.
Ruby was quick to react, using her semblance to throw herself in front of an attacking beowolf, slashing with the longsword across its neck. It worked, severing the head from the shoulders. She could hear the relief from some people behind her, while others screamed as more grimm decided to converge on the new threat.
Ruby dodged and slashed, doing well for her experience. She kept taking small hit though. She was used to her large scythe that covered a cricle around her, cutting the largest of the grimm that dared try to attack her. Now with a longsword instead she found herself judging distance slightly wrong. An amateur mistake. She adjusted, glad that before she started training full time with her uncle, Signal forced her to use basic weapons.
Another beowolf came from behind her scratching her aura, making it flare. She cut it down quickly afterward. It had to come from her right. Apparently in fights two eyes were better than one, even with her other senses on high alert.
The fighting continued. Every once in a while Ruby would get hit by a random paw, but as it continued she got better and better. She hadn't faced an ursa yet. She knew they were there, thank the brothers that there were many more beowolfs than ursa or things may have gone differently. She saw a familiar figure run behind a house in front of her as the beowolfs thinned, being chased by a creep. Looking behind her she noticed she must have had some impact. Defenders had rallied, forming a semicircle around the children and hurt. Originally she would have also said 'women' until she realized that the mothers with children huddled behind them were...fierce is putting it nicely.
Ruby saw the defenders holding there own, so she went after the creep. It stood over a man she recognized as Bezl. He was hurt, clutching his arm. He fell as it jumped at him. Bezl managed to hit it with a pistol. It just seemed to make the creep mad. Ruby launched herself with her semblance, cutting the creep in half with a swipe of the longsword, hearing the end of the blade thump as it bit into the wooden structure behind the creep.
Petals floated all around them. Bezl looked stunned, "Little huntress...but why? How?"
Ruby smiled, "Everybody needs a little hope right?"
"But I, you. The chocolate?"
Ruby chuckled, "Yea, sorry. I was so inspired by you that I gave it to someone who needed it more than me. That's okay right? I don't want to offend you."
Bezl looked down, smiling, "No, I see now that it was probably for the best." He saw Ruby was having a hard time getting the sword out of the wall. He grabbed the handle while she struggled, pulling it out with a jerk. "Now lets get back out there. I've got my shop to defend!"
"You mean the people?"
Smiling and with a slight chuckle, "Of course! Can't have a shop without customers!"
Ruby was concerned about his arm. It must have hurt because he didn't move it much, but he ran out of the alleyway (?) and back into the mess of the battle.
"Look out!"
Ruby spun around to see Jade stabbing into the back of an ursa that got close to her in the confusion. The ursa reared as Ruby slashed at its face, thowing Jade off. Jade spun, landing on her feet before throwing herself back at the ursa, using the reared up state to slash at its underside.
"Seriously Ruby, next time don't run off on your own! Don't you know basic strategy!?" Jade chastised as the ursa went on the attack. It was slow and outmatched with both Ruby and Jade there.
Everytime Jade slashed up, Ruby would sash down on the opposite side, keeping the ursa confused. With one final roar it fell and started to dissolve. Jade stabbed into the skull of the ursa as it did.
"Why did you do that?" Ruby asked, not really concerned, just curious.
"This is my first ursa kill, so I will make sure its dead. Ive had problems before with enemies getting back up when you think they are down for the count"
The way she said that did concern Ruby. After fighting grimm once, you find out that them dissolving equals death, which means those enemies might not have been grimm. "You are only a teenager, right?" The question never really came up before, but it made sense to Ruby.
Jade looked at her confused and sweaty, "Yea, I'm thirteen, why?"
That made Ruby's eye twitch as she looked into Jade's eyes while standing straight. Slumping after the observation she mumbled "not fair". She wasn't sure if Jade had heard her, but the twitching of Jade's ears and the smirk on her face told Ruby that, yes, yes she had.
A scream cut off the moment. Both the girls ran towards the scream, seeing several more ursa lead by an alpha crashing through the town.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Jade said running at the ursa alpha. She stabbed it with both of her daggers. The ursa went to swipe at her, Jade using her tail to punch the ursa in the eye, causing it to shake and roar.
Ruby ran around doing quick swipes at several ursa, leaving petals and roars of pain in her wake. With Jade and ruby made a good duo. They were both quick fighters that ran circles around the ursa who were much bigger and slower.
"Ahh!" Jade cried as she dodged a paw from an ursa but got caught by another. She went flying, crashing through a wall. Ruby went over just to check to see if Jade was okay. Jade was covered in bruses and cuts. Her tail was bleeding as well as a cut on her forehead.
"Are you hurt too bad?" Ruby asked while facing back towards the ursa who seemed fine with slowely lumbering towards her.
Jade moaned behind Ruby as she tried getting up. "Everything seems intact. Everything hurts, but is intact." Jade got back up and stood next to Ruby with her daggers in hand. "Its no fair you have aura"
"Who knows maybe if you get through this you can unlock yours" Ruby said with a challenging grin.
Jade met her grin with her own, "Don't know if I want it if it will make me all whiny like some people"
The banter was cut off as a smaller ursa swiped in between the two girls. Both jumped in opposite directions, slashing at the creature's sides. The creature fell as more of the ursa came at them. They were doing fine holding them off, but when the alpha came into the fray it was all the girls could do to not get hit. Jade lost one of her daggers, and Ruby the tip of her longsword, but they kept fighting.
Ruby could still hear fighting in other areas. As the fight with the ursa continued those grew less and less, giving Ruby hope that they would get some help. In two consecutive strikes the alpha tore the other dagger out Jade's hand, throwing her onto the ground and broke the rest of the longsword blade so Ruby was just holding the hilt.
Ruby was low on aura, having taken too many swipes earlier. Jade was in no condition to fight. She lost her daggers and was bleeding badly.
"That longsword was a gift you know, I expected you to take better care of it." Jasmine said jumping down in front of them, speaking in her experienced voice. "It takes real effort to destroy one of my creations, you must have fought hard."
The ursa alpha roared in her face. Jasmine frowned and flicked her left hand up over her head. The ursa stopped roaring. Its head fell into two parts, the rest of body falling and dissolving in front of Jasmine. "Rude, I was trying to have a conversation." Jasmine smiled, "but I guess I can spare you some more gifts since you protected Jade."
Jade went a little red. Ruby looked out in joy as Ren ran out of one of the side streets with his two pistols, slashing and killing a beowolf before attacking one of the ursa that were focused on Jasmine.
"Pearl!?" Jade yelled in confusion as Pearl came out behind Ren riding what looked like a dog except it was pure white, almost like it was made of smoke. Several children followed her, one of them Ruby recognized as the reptilian girl she gave the food and chocolate to.
"No mercy!" Pearl squeaked out getting yells from several of the children who ran at the ursa.
Ruby had never seen a grimm confused before. There were firsts for everything. Ren helped Ruby up while Jasmine helped Jade up. Both had to be held back when the ursa went to attack the children.
"Ren! What are you doing!? The children!" Ruby yelled but quieted as she felt his semblance wash over her.
"Are fine. Watch"
The ursa chomped one of the children. When it did the child disappeared in a whisp of smoke, reappearing next to Pearl and running back toward the ursa, picking up a rock and hitting the ursa with it. Ruby didn't think that would do much damage, but was even more surprised when the ursa fell back like it was hit by a dust round. Several more children were taking out the other ursa and putting out fires with water.
Jasmine laughed as both Ruby and Jade stared in shock. "Close your mouths or you'll attract flies"
Both did as the last of the ursa died.
"Okay. Play time is over" Pearl squeaked again, getting off the dog. Mist started to swirl at Pearl's feet before the dog disaapeared. Several 'awws' were heard from the kids before they started disappearing into smoke, Pearl waving at several of them as they went.
The reptilian girl came up to Ruby. "Thank you for your kindness. Because of you, my friend will survive." The girl gave Ruby a hug as she started to fade. Ruby could feel her. The girl was very cold, but was solid, even in the places that were fading. "The chocolate was good by the way!" With that the girl disappeared.
Pearl came skipping over to Jasmine looking satisfied. "Mom! I had fun. We should do this again!"
Ruby saw Jasmine wince. "I know you did, but not for a while from now okay?" Jasmine said in her sweet voice.
"Aww….fine. At least I have something to tell any new friends I get. Pearl said perking back up and smiling a pure innocent smile.
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Several people filed past thanking Ruby and Ren, which was odd. Several commented about how they were lucky there were faunus huntsman out there as well. There were so many people that neither Ren nor Ruby tried to fix the statements.
It was surprising, but while some of the people thanked Jade it was far less people than thanked Ruby and Ren. None approached Either Pearl or Jasmine, who had stood back and let them take the thanks. Jasmine had pulled a coat out of somewhere and had the hood up, covering her head and face.
Ruby didn't know how long they had fought, but the sun was now coming up, throwing shades of color around what was left of the town. Two bullheads came from the air and landed next to the walls, seeming to come from inside the walled city instead of opening the gates. One had a small fat man in it that was clearly having a hard time walking. The other had cameras and reporters. The reporters seemed to be interviewing the fat man before turning and running over to Ruby and Ren. Ruby was about to say something but was silenced by the lady that held a microphone.
"Wait, we are on commercial" That very much confused Ruby. "Hello, and welcome back! If you are just joining us we were about to interview the saviors of Brightmarble! So how does it feel to be a hero?"
"Well, uh. I mean we aren't" Ruby stammered before Ren saved her.
"Several people were saved today. We were glad to be the ones to do it, but it was sad to see such loss as well"
The reporter's eyes seemed to shine as Ren spoke. "Oh and how does it feel to have a faunus hybrid partner? Have you seen any improvement in her fighting since you took her under your wing?"
Ren looked confused. "What? She can fight for herself! She's probably better than I am-"
Ren was cut off by the reporter before he could say any more. "You heard it first here folks. A human and a faunus protegee that was called in by the mayor helped push back and defeat the grimm. This is not only a step forward in the fight against the grimm, but also a step forward towards equality between humans and faunus!"
The cameraman saying cut snapped Ruby out of her awkward nature. She got the attention of the reporter. "But that's not what happened!"
"Silence!" The lady pushed Ruby away from her. "Did I say you could talk to me, faunus scum? Go back to your gutters!" With that lovely exchange the reporter got back into the bullhead they had gotten out of.
Ruby looked over at Ren who had gone up to speak to the mayor of Brightmarble. She thought it was going badly because the mayor was getting angry and red, not that he wasn't already from just standing up.
"That is preposterous! All of our citizen are treated equally!"
Ruby jumped in. "Why are these people starving and struggling to survive! Why do I see children dead on the streets?!" Ruby did not have to fake anger. She had seen enough in just one day to know what the man said was just plain wrong, mimicking his actions.
"You know not of what you speak!" The mayor looked over the faunus. "I see no citizens here. I see dogs and dredgers. Looters and criminals. These animals are not citizen and therefore do not count!"
Ruby saw images flash in her eyes. Velvet, Jasmine, Pearl, Jade. They deserved better than this kind of person. She went to grab at him, being stopped by Ren. Ren shook his head, but the damage had been done.
"You dared try to attack me! You filthy faunus!"Two people that looked like huntsman guards came walking up. Behind the mayor. "Guards! Arrest them!"
The huntsman went to attack, but suddenly they were surrounded by the faunus from the town. They swarmed the huntsman and the mayor, not harming them, just keeping their focus off of Ruby and Ren. Ruby felt a tug on her hand. Pearl started leading them both away as the mayor kept yelling. Pearl lead them down the street to Bezl's shop. Bezl was inside as well as Jade and Jasmine.
"Hey there kid. I never got the chance to thank you for the save in that allyway."
"Oh it was no big deal. How is your arm Bezl?"
Bezl flexed it, "As good as new if not better thanks to your friend here" Bezl said pointing at Jasmine, "She used some kinda huntress semblance on me and now I feel better than I have in years, though I thought she was killing me while I healed" Bezl moved his sleeve to show a good sized scar on his shoulder.
"That's mama for you!" Pearl said hugging Jasmine tight. "She can never stand to see a good person in pain"
Jeffrey decided that was the best time to come running into the store clutching Jade's daggers. Bezl grabbed him before he could run to Jade. "Boy where have you been? What are you doing with someone's weapons?" Bezl grabbed the daggers from the boy, dropping him. Jeffery noticed all the people in the room and with one glance from Pearl decided to pale and run out the door he just came in.
Bezl was about to give the daggers back to Jade when he looked at one of the blades really close. His eyes went wide as he dropped the daggers. Ruby was concerned about Bezl. Jade sighed, and started walking over to the man that had fallen to his hands and knees.
Ren watched silently. Ruby wanted to see what was wrong, but Ren grabbed her hand. She wasn't sure if he meant to but she felt his semblance start to seep into her slowely. It was bliss.
Bezl seemed to be tearing up, "No. Its not possible. But the scars are there. No it can't be" Jade picked up her daggers and sheathed them. Bezl lifted his head to see Jade standing above him.
Jade rolled her eyes. She flicked her tail out under Bezl's chin and put her hand out in front of her, above Bezl with her thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger out while her other two were curled back. Bezl gasped.
"Arise! Become the claws that will change the world." Jade stated in a voice that was different than her normal one, like she was trying to imitate someone.
Bezl trembled but rose. "So it is you. My lady it's good to see you again."
Jade folded her hands in her typical pose of indifference and annoyance. "Yea, sure"
Well Jade was back to normal.
"Rumors said you had died, but I didn't believe them. Others said to went to the Butcher, but I am glad to see you are well."
"Yes, I am alive. You've seen me almost every week for months. Nothing has changed."
"But everything has changed!" Bezl looked over at Jasmine and Pearl. "Already starting I see" Bezl looked at Ruby and Ren. "And event getting servants, oh your mother would be proud"
Jade's tail and ears bristled. "They are my friends, not my servents and you will treat them as such!" Ruby was in awe at the authority in Jade's voice that reminded her of Jasmine.
"Yes. Of course. I'm sorry my lady"
"And don't call me that! You've never called me that before, don't start now!" Jade turned to Ruby, relaxing her stance and voice. "We have some gifts for you."
"So you want me to get those 'special orders' out of the back? They were for her then?" Bezl asked
"Yes get them."
Bezl shuffled past them into the back for a couple seconds before coming out with a large cloth. Opening it up, Ruby gawked and smiled. "One burner scroll and one death contraption of a mechashift weapon"
Ruby slammed into the counter, misjudging the distance with her one eye but not caring about the pain. She picked up C resent Rose and hugged it tightly. "My baby! I thought I had lost you forever!" She turned to Pearl and Jasmine who were smiling and Jade who looked slightly disturbed. "How!?"
To Ruby's surprise it was Pearl who spoke up. "Lets just say someone close to you told us about it, so we got it fixed."
The only person that could have done that was Ren. Ruby must thank him later for that. But first, "Hey this scroll can make calls right?"
"I mean it is a scroll"
"Right, I have a call to make"
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It was a couple hours later back at the cottage where Ruby and Ren had gotten ready to leave. Ren left to get the last of his things when Jasmine came up to Ruby.
"Are you sure that we shouldn't stay a little longer? Grimm tend to come in waves" Ruby questioned
Jasmine shook her head. "Grimm will always come, but you gave the people hope. Plus Mayor Winchester put a bounty out on you and Ren"
"Wait. Mayor Winchester? Any relation to Cardin Winchester, a fellow student at Beacon?"
"Jasmine shook her head again. He doesn't have any children, though I know he has a brother who he is always trying to outmatch. There may be a connection"
Okay, interesting. "Well that's something to ask when I get back. Not that I want to talk to Cardin"
"The world is smaller than we think, isn't it?" Jasmine did a small sweet laugh. "But Ruby, I have a favor to ask you."
"You literally have saved my life multiple times now. Just name it and it will be done"
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Ren and Ruby walked down the path towards the outside of the small town. They had a map that told them the way back to Vale. All they had to do was get to the next town, which wouldn't be too bad, couple days at most on foot, before they could catch a flight back to Beacon.
"Hey Ren, thank you for telling them about my weapon. You know, getting it fixed."
Ren looked confused. "I didn't tell them. The first time I woke up I threatened Jade and got knocked out by Jasmine. When could I have told them about C resent Rose?"
"But if not you then who?" Ruby looked up the path and saw Jade leaning against a tree, her familiar pack on her back and her daggers on her.
"Ruby" She said with some grace "Ren" She said with more paranoia in her voice, "Took you guys long enough. I feel like I have been waiting here for hours"
Ruby waved her off, "Thirty minutes max"
Jade looked annoyed, "That still means you were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago!"Jade started walking with them but had to slow her pace to match the two hunters. "Are you two not going to go any faster?"
"We will later" Ren said earning a glare from Jade and a flicking of her ears. "For right now we must conserve our strength since we will likely be attacked by grimm on the way to the next town."
Jade looked like she was going to say something but Ruby beat her to it. "Don't worry! I called my Uncle. I am sure he will be expecting us! Oh and Jade, you'll be able to see the Vital Festival!"
"Great, some old man knows we are coming and I get to see some people fight. Big woop"
"It is an event that marks the peace long fought hard for long ago. We have it to celebrate those that have fallen so that we can have peace, so we always remember the opportunities we have" Ren preached.
"-And it has junk food, and fighting, and people showing off their beautifully crafted weapons! Oh and you can meet my team and my friends! And-!"
Ruby kept spouting off excited things about the future. "I am going to regret Jasmine talking me into this" Jade mumbled.
Jade's tail flicked when Ren responded with a chuckle, "You just might"
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A/N: I'm DONE. THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK.
Seriously I am glad I could get this done. I have been trying to get it out for the past week, but something always came up that pushed it back.
I may have rushed the end, but I wanted to focus on the experience in the town. Things have changed slightly and Ruby picked up a new friend! Teammate Get!
Sorry about that.
Until next time!
Read and Review!