Here we are at Chapter 26. Time for the school dance, and all the shenanigans that come with it. I do not own RWBY or Tales of Berseria. They belong to their respective owners. Here's Chapter 26. Enjoy.
Chapter 26: The Dance – Part 1
Tonight is the night of the dance, and everyone is excited for the special event. Well…everyone except for Velvet. She made it clear to the team that she doesn't do dances, however, she also said that she'll go just because Ruby asked her to. Inside the ballroom, decorations are up, the music is playing, and students are either dancing with their partners, or hanging out with friends, but all are having a good time. At the front of the ballroom, Yang is standing behind a podium, wearing a white, sleeveless dress with gray edging that shows off her figure, and white pumps. Playing with her hair a bit, she welcomes a few more students inside before Weiss walks up behind her.
"Hey Yang," she gets her attention.
"What's up Weiss?" Yang replies as she turns around to face her. Weiss is also wearing a white dress, but this dress has cutouts on both sides of her waist, a translucent mesh for the yoke of her dress, and white pumps. "Did I ever tell you that you look amazing in that dress?" she jokes.
Weiss rolls her eyes, but smiles anyway, "Yes, three times now. Anyway, is everything going well here? I still have yet to see the others," she asks.
"Nope, not yet. Don't worry, Blake WILL be here, and I'm sure Ruby is just having a little trouble getting used to wearing a fancy dress. Not really her style. And Velvet…" she trails off.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with Velvet?" Weiss asks.
"No, she's fine, it's just…During our talk with Blake, to get her to slow down and come to the dance, Velvet says some things that has me concerned. Remember how she and Professor Ozpin said that she came to this school two years ago, but had to leave for a family emergency?" Yang says.
"Yes. What about it?" Weiss asks.
"Well, she told us about how her little brother, Laphicet was killed. It was someone who was her brother-in-law, a man named Artorius. He killed him as part of some ritual in order to gain power, and then after that, he had Velvet locked up for THREE years. Velvet says that once she got out, she went after him, and during that time she met those friends of hers that she told us about last semester," Yang explains, stunning Weiss.
"What?! Three years? But if she was locked up for three years, then how could she have only been gone for two years? Yang, you don't think…" Weiss says.
"I don't know, but something isn't adding up. I wanted to tell Ruby about it, but she said that she already knew about it. That Velvet told her everything about her past, more than the rest of us know about. It has me concerned," Yang says.
Weiss remains silent for a moment, but then she places a comforting hand on Yang's right shoulder, "You're a good older sister, Yang. However, if our leader knows about all this, and still trusts her, and even likes her, then I think we should try to understand the situation before we jump to conclusions. I trust Ruby, and so should you," she says.
"Aren't you concerned about all this?" Yang asks.
"Of course I'm concerned, but…I know first-hand what it's like to be betrayed by family. Listen, we'll find out the truth soon enough, but for now we have a more important job to do. That's making sure this dance goes off perfectly. We all need a little break, and do you want to ruin Ruby's night with Velvet since she likes her so much?" Weiss asks.
Yang looks on for a moment, but then sighs and smiles, "You're right. Every girl our age deserves to have the best school dance. I want Ruby to have that as well. Thanks Weiss," she thanks her.
"Of course. Besides…you look better with a smile on your face, and I will not have my date sulking around tonight. You still owe me a dance after all," Weiss says before she turns and leaves.
"Woah, what a woman," Yang mutters as she watches Weiss walk away. A moment later, she hears the doors open up behind her and turns around to see Velvet…not wearing a dress. Velvet is wearing a long-sleeved white dress shirt, a black vest with a red tie, black dress pants and shoes, and black gloves. "What are you wearing?" Yang asks, bewildered.
"Would you rather I came in my pajamas?" Velvet retorts.
"But, what about your dress? I thought Coco got you one for the dance," Yang says.
"Yeah, doesn't mean I have to wear it. I told her I wouldn't get the dress unless I get this as well. I promised Ruby I'd come to the dance, but I never said anything about wearing a dress," Velvet counters.
Yang pouts, "Aw, come on. Ruby would've loved seeing you in a dress. This is a dance after all," she says.
"And give you ammo to tease me with. Fat chance of that happening. Look, I'm here now, and that's really all that matters. I'll be waiting for Ruby to show up," she says and walks away to lean against a wall off to the side.
Yang groans, "I wouldn't do anything like that…maybe," she mutters.
Velvet waits off to the side of the ballroom, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Some of the girls came by and asked her if she wanted to dance with them, but she told them that she already has a date and is waiting on them. Hearing that she was already with someone, the girls walk away in defeat. Most of the guys stayed away, one, because she wasn't wearing a dress, and two, because she gave them a death glare that scared them away before they could even get close. After a while, she hears Yang squeal.
"Oh, you look beautiful!" she praises someone.
Velvet looks back, and immediately her eyes widen.
"Whoa," she mutters in awe.
In front of the ballroom doors, stands Ruby, wearing a short, red, sleeveless dress with a thick black sash around the waist and black edging at the bottom. The bodice of the dress is split vertically to the sash and laced with black lacing. The yoke of the dress is translucent mesh with an opaque collar and hem, as well as opaque lines connecting the collar to her shoulders. She also wears black stockings and pumps. Honestly, she was breathtaking.
"Can we please have a serious conversation about how Weiss fights in these," Ruby groans before she has trouble walking in her pumps, much to her giggling sister's amusement. "So, have you seen Velvet around?" Ruby asks. Yang points behind her, and Ruby looks to see Velvet in a tux. She sort of half pouts, half smile at seeing her there. "Aw, I would've liked to see Velvet in a dress…Well at least she looks nice in that tux," she thinks as she walks over to her, having some trouble doing so because of the pumps. "H-hey, Velvet. I'm glad you showed up…You…look really nice," she stutters.
"Um, yeah, you look really nice too," Velvet replies, her mouth going dry. "Since when had my mouth become so dry? Maybe I should get some juice," she thinks before shaking her head out of her stupor. "I'm going to get some juice. Do you want some?" she asks.
"Sure, that would be great," Ruby replies.
Velvet nods and moves over to one of the long tables where the punch bowl was stationed. As she was pouring their punch, she saw Jaune walk over to her, wearing a black tux with red edging.
"Hey, Velvet. I must admit I wasn't expecting you to show up, let alone show up in a tux, though you do pull it off," he says as he takes the punch dipper after Velvet is done.
"Was that your attempt of getting me to dance with you?" she deadpans.
Jaune laughs nervously, "Heh-heh-heh, no, I want to live to see my next birthday, thank you very much. By the way, have you seen Pyrrha yet? I've already seen Nora and Ren, but she hasn't shown up yet," he asks as he pours himself some punch.
"Not yet. I'm sure she'll be here, just don't blow it when she does," she says as she takes her drinks in her hands.
"Wait, what do you mean?" he asks, confused.
Velvet rolls her eyes, "Never mind," she says and turns to leave. "I can't believe how dense he is. I guess it's like what they say, stupid is stupid does," she mutters and returns to Ruby. "Here's your punch Ruby," she offers as she hands Ruby her drink.
Ruby happily takes it, "Thanks Velvet," she says and goes to take a drink.
Just then, the ballroom doors open up and they turn to see Sun and Blake walking in together, Blake holding on to Sun's right arm. Sun is basically wearing his usual outfit, though this time, he is wearing a buttoned up black dress shirt with a blue tie. Meanwhile, Blake is wearing a short, purple, asymmetrical, halter neck dress that is split up the right side and has a black collar. Translucent black mesh covers her shoulders, decolletage and back, and decorative black swirls cover the left side of the dress and continue up the left strap. The outfit is completed with black pumps.
"Oh, you two look great together!" Yang squeals, making Blake blush a little bit. Yang walks up to them, "I'm glad you could make it Blake, now then I believe I owe you a dance. Sorry, monkey boy, you're gonna have to wait," she says and takes Blake's hand and leads her onto the dance floor.
"Well, it looks like whatever you and Yang said to her worked. Thanks Velvet," Ruby says.
"No problem. That's what friends are for," Velvet replies.
The two, along with Weiss and Sun, watch as Yang and Blake dance together along with the rest of the dancing students in the center of the ballroom. From their position, they can see Blake smiling and enjoying herself. After a few minutes, Yang spins Blake around before they bow to one another. Yang then motions for Sun to take over and he starts dancing with Blake while Yang walks away. Yang walks up to Ruby, Weiss, and Velvet as they look on at Blake dancing with Sun, laughing at something he said before looking back at them, smiling.
"I told you she would come," Yang says.
"Mission accomplished," Weiss adds.
"It's about time," Velvet notes, sipping her punch.
"So…what do we do now?" Ruby asks, looking at them.
"Just have fun," Yang says before she and Weiss leave Velvet and Ruby to themselves as they watch them go.
"Does that mean that I can change out of these stupid things and into my hood now?" Ruby pleads. "Stupid lady stilts," Ruby complains about her pumps as she still has trouble walking in them.
"At least shoes are the only thing you're uncomfortable with. I don't feel right wearing this whole outfit I got on. It just doesn't suit me," Velvet adds.
"Not enjoying yourselves?" they hear a voice and see Professor Ozpin walk up beside Ruby' left side.
"What do you think?" Velvet flatly asks.
"Oh, no, haha. Everything's fine. I'm just not much of a…fancy-pancy, dancy girl," Ruby replies.
"That makes two of us," Velvet mutters.
"Well, you can't spend your entire life on the battlefield, even if you may want to," Ozpin says.
"Yeah, that lesson's been floating around a lot lately," Ruby says, crossing her arms.
"This is a school. Lessons are all over the place here," Velvet notes, trying to make a joke.
"If you think about it, fighting and dancing aren't so different. Two partners, interlocked, heh. Although, one wrong move on the ballroom merely lead to a swollen foot," Ozpin says.
"Or a twisted ankle," Ruby mutters, looking at her feet.
"It's not every day that friends are able to come together like this. Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help make them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget," Ozpin explains to them as they watch everyone else enjoying the night.
Velvet thinks on his words and glances at Ruby, thinking a few outrageous ideas in her mind. She slightly blushes as she goes to say something to her, but then the ballroom doors open up again, getting her attention as she looks back at them.
"You guys are just in time," Yang says from the podium as she looks at the new guests.
The two new guests turn out to be Mercury and Emerald, with Mercury wearing a black tuxedo with gold lines on the edges of the jacket and shoulders, along with a gray vest, a white buttoned up dress shirt, a gold bowtie, and black dress shows. Meanwhile, Emerald is wearing a dark green sleeveless dress, but black under her chest, and going down to above her knees, and black pumps.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Mercury says as they smile innocently at them.
The two walk by, with Mercury winking at Velvet, only to get pulled by his ear by Emerald, who takes him away. Velvet watches them go with mild annoyance, only to feel Ruby wrap her arm around Velvet's, gaining her attention as she sees her pouting.
"Ruby, are you okay?" she asks.
"Yeah…I'm fine," she says, though Velvet can tell she's lying, but leaves it alone.
They move to where the punch bowl is, and watch everyone enjoy themselves. They see Yang dancing with Weiss, who seems to really enjoy the dance with her, Glynda surprisingly accepting a dance from Ironwood, and just enjoying the peaceful event. A moment later, they see Jaune walking over to them, drink in hand.
"Hey, guys. I see you're hiding out by the punch bowl too," he says.
"Yep," Ruby replies, popping the "p".
'Pretty much," Velvet adds.
Jaune closes his eyes, "To the socially awkward," he jokes, gesturing for them to touch their cups together, to which Ruby giggles while Velvet hums as they clank their glasses together.
"Sorry things didn't work out with Weiss," Ruby says.
"Eh, it's fine. Yang's pretty cool, and she's a really good friend to her. Though I must admit, I was surprised to find out that they were dating," he says.
"Actually, they only came as friends. Yang didn't want to pressure Weiss into anything and Weiss accepted. She told me before the dance started. Although, from where I'm standing, it looks like it could amount to something bigger than just friends," Ruby says.
"Well, as long as Weiss is happy, that's fine by me…Say, have you guys seen Pyrrha tonight? I haven't seen her," he asks.
"No, I actually haven't seen her. Velvet, did you see her come in?" Ruby asks her.
Velvet shakes her head, but then looks around and notices the redhead walking up so stairs to the next floor, wearing a long, sleeveless red dress with a slit on one side, and black pumps.
"Wait, I see her. Looks like she's going to the balcony outside," she says, pointing in Pyrrha's direction.
Jaune looks over, and see her, "Hold my punch," he says, handing Ruby his drink before he walks away.
"Hopefully, now he'll realize what's right in front of him," Velvet notes, making Ruby giggle before she sips Jaune's drink, making Velvet gag in disgust.
The two stand in awkward silence while they watch everyone else having a good time. Eventually, they see Yang and Weiss stop dancing and head upstairs to watch over everyone. The two fidget for a short while, not knowing what to do. Velvet glances at Ruby, trying to figure out what to do next now that it was just the two of them.
"So, I guess tomorrow is when we have to get back to work. We do have our first missions tomorrow. Think we'll be ready for that?" Velvet finally asks.
"Yeah. Whatever is waiting for us, I'm sure we'll be ready for anything," she replies, but then they all hear some people laughing and look out to see what the commotion was. "…Except for that," she adds.
"Either I'm finally going crazy, or Yang put something in this punch," Velvet notes, eyes wide.
In front of them stands Jaune, wearing a white sleeveless dress with a light blue bow tied around his waist, white stockings, and regular shoes. He is seen walking over to Pyrrha, who is surprised by what she finds standing behind her. She laughs, but he smiles and offers his hand to her for a dance. She happily accepts and the two, followed by Ren and Nora, move onto the dance floor and begin dancing together in complete sync. They watch in awe at the spectacle.
"Wow, I had no idea they could dance like that," Ruby says.
Meanwhile, Velvet is thinking something else, "You've got to be kidding me…I'm getting beat by Jaune of all people," she thinks before she glances at Ruby and gets a determined look in her eye. "Ah, screw it," she mentally decides before putting her drink down on a table. "I'll be right back. Do NOT move from this spot," she says and quickly leaves.
Ruby watches her go, "Wait, what?" she says, confused, but listens to her anyway. She waits and watches as she sees Team JNPR dancing together, Blake and Sun, Yang and Weiss; even Penny, who's wearing a green sleeved dress, doing the robot with an Atlas soldier. Watching them all have fun makes her start to lose her sense of happiness by standing on the sidelines alone. "Well, I'm not much of a dancer anyway. I guess…Velvet just got bored with all this and decided to leave. She said that she'd be right back, but…" she wonders, frowning as she lowers her head.
Yang notices Ruby's expression and walks over to her, with Weiss behind her.
"Hey, Ruby, everything alright?" she asks, concerned.
Ruby looks up at her, "Huh? Oh yeah…I'm fine," she lies unconvincingly.
Yang, however, doesn't buy it, "Come on Ruby, what's the matter? Does this have something to do with Velvet?" she asks, hands on her hips.
"Well…she said that she'd be right back, and she told me not to leave this spot. I hope she's coming back, but…I'm not so sure she will," she admits.
Yang frowns at hearing this, "Look, I'm sure she'll be back. Just wait a few more minutes, okay?" she asks.
"…Okay," Ruby replies.
"Good, and even if she doesn't come back, the rest of the tea, will be here to cheer you up. Weiss, stay here with Ruby. I'll be right back," Yang says and leaves, now sporting an angry expression on her face. "That's it! No one makes my sister look sad like that. When I get my hands on her…" she thinks as she approaches the ballroom doors. However, as soon as she opens them, she stops dead in her tracks, and her eyes widen in shock. "…No…Way…"
And that's the chapter. I thought it would be a little interesting to have Velvet in a tux instead of a dress, given her history. Anyway, the second part of the dance will come out soon enough. Will the rest of the team find out the truth about Velvet's past? Will Velvet come back? What stopped Yang in her tracks? Until next time, please Read and Review.