Prologue 4: The Crucible
Atop a snow capped hill, shrouded in darkness and immersed in cold, stood a lone figure. A girl in a grey uniform, with a red cloak billowing behind her, stood staring out at a seemingly endless sea of darkness. Behind her, men were moving and working, preparing for the upcoming crucible, their work being lit fires and dust lights.
The sound of footsteps making their way up the hill snapped the girl out her haze, to turn to the approaching man.
"Thought I'd find you here, ma'am." Stevens said loudly, speaking over the wind.
"I'm done telling you, old man. Call me that again, and I'll cut your tongue out." Ruby said teasingly, try to distract herself from the current situation.
"You're the one who chose to accept the position, kid. Besides, what would God think if he heard me acting so familiar with you?" He answered her.
"You know that I didn't really have any other choice. There was no point in letting some fuck-stain, Atlas officer pretend to lead you guys, while I did all the real work." Ruby said vulgarly."Also, you've known me over two years. You know that I don't give a shit what that crotchety old excuse for a god, thinks."
Stevens couldn't help but laugh at Ruby's vulgarity. "Well, at least if you've improved anything over the last two years, your vocabulary has gotten far more colorful."
Ruby had a distaste for profanity for much of her life, but after leaving home, had found that she had a knack for it. "You guys are the ones who corrupted me. Besides other things have improved too." Ruby pouted.
"Like what?" Stevens joked.
Ruby actually seemed to stop and think for a second."Uhhh, I have boobs now?" Ruby said, half questioning if that one counted.
"The fact that those are your two highest priorities, is simply awful." Stevens berated her. "Also, the second was natural, it doesn't count."
"Damn!" Ruby whined in response.
They both laughed for a minute, before their voices faded into comfortable silence. Ruby had in fact, grown over the last two years. She felt that she had grown at least, a few inches taller. Her body had filled out, and looked more womanly now, though still not on the level of her sister. She had also let her hair grow out over the last two years, it now reached just past her shoulders, and she kept it pulled into a ponytail, resting in front of her right shoulder. They both looked out at the abyss before them, contemplating what awaited them.
The elation gone from Ruby's voice, she turned back to Stevens with a cold expression."What's our status?"
"Alpha is ready to push, Bravo is standing by, Charlie is headed South with God." Stevens answered.
"Good, the rotation will stay the same. I want you to stay with Bravo and ensure they're ready when the time comes. Once Alpha arrives head to the rear with them, they'll need your help once this wave finishes." Ruby said with authority in her voice.
"The men were wondering if the target number will stay the same." Stevens informed her.
"Supplies and personnel numbers?" Ruby questioned in response.
"Alpha is at a hundred and two, Bravo is sitting at ninety-seven, and Charlie a hundred and thirteen. Liquids and ammo are still in the green, casualties are... less than expected, equipment is green." Stevens answered her.
"Rebalance Bravo and Charlie. The target stays the same, one thousand per company." Ruby told him coldly.
"Will you be staying out with all three companies again?" Stevens asked concerned.
"Bar death or disfigurement, yes. We've barely made a scratch, and we can't count on being relieved out here." Ruby answered him.
"You honestly plan to win this? This isn't like our other missions!" Stevens scolded her out of concern.
"No one is being forced to stay. Anyone who wants, can take whatever supplies they need and leave." Ruby answered.
"You and I both know, they would never abandon you." He said solemnly.
"Thens I guess we're all fools. I can't run away from this though. Has there been any word of reinforcements?" Ruby answered him.
"No, they think it may take a week or more for the storm to clear up, and the tracks are still out." Stevens replied with frustration in his voice.
"Exactly, that means that if we let up, they could sweep through the mountains, killing the two thousand people held up in the shelters there." Ruby said confidently.
There was another moment of silence, this one far more tense than the last. In the distance, hidden by the darkness a bone-chilling cry broke the silence. It was the cry of countless Grimm, marching towards them with fangs and teeth bared.
"It's time." Ruby said, before turning and walking down the hill, towards the awaiting was the same airship that had brought Ruby to Camp Kilo, though it looked far different now. Tied to it were multiple horses, all with saddles and reins. She had no trouble getting the airship, however, the horses were stolen from an indoor pasteur, belonging to the Schnees, some miles south. Though it wasn't many, they had managed to get eighteen of them, six going to each company.
The airship itself, had every ounce of extra weight removed, in order to accommodate the weight of an entire company. The pilots had to remove any insulation, all but one layer of the hull plating, all the seating, and most of the computer systems, to include navigation and auto piloting.
Ruby untied a horse and climbed on. Ushering the horse forward, Ruby rode to Alpha company's staging area.
"Mount up Alpha! Get the airship spun up, and ready to transport! We leave in five!" Ruby shouted at the men.
"Hey, kid!" She turned to look at Stevens who had just yelled at her.
"Make sure to come back, Ruby." The man said, her real name rolling off his tongue.
Ruby couldn't keep herself from smiling, as her eyes met his.
"Captain Rose!" She heard a voice beckon her. Turning she recognized it as Alpha Company's First Sergeant.
"Alpha Company is ready to push. We just await you order." He informed her.
Ruby turned to look back at the nearby men, and spoke again.
"The target number stays the same! A thousand Grimm in one hour, that makes ten per man. We'll be hitting the west flank!" Ruby looked down at the men, all of them haggard from days of hard fighting, and insufficient rest. Regardless, they were all resolved to fight."Move out!" Ruby ordered.
Ruby yanked on the reins, making the horse dart forward, and into the darkness. Five follow her on horseback. The rest were loaded up in the airship. Each horse had dust lights tied to the sides of the saddles. Once they closed on the Grimm, everyone would dismount and the horses would be left in the rear to provide Grimm themselves didn't bother attacking animals, so short of them running off, they had little worry of losing them.
The rest of the soldiers, would be dropped off by airship, and the ship would then return to Bravo Company, in order to spare fuel. The ship would also stop, and leave a few long-range support teams in the rear. At the end of each hour, the company would pull back to the support team's location and get back on the airship, once it had dropped off the next company.
As for the attacks themselves, they targeted the flanks of the massive formation. The goal was to do as much damage as they could, before the Grimm closed in around them. Then, attacking the opposing flank with the next wave, this having the effect of drawing the Grimm in one direction then the other, slowing the horde's forward movement. Ideally, they would attack the rear stopping the grimm's forward movement entirely, however Ruby feared the possibility that there could be a second horde of Grimm further behind the first. If that were the case, they would be doomed if they got surrounded.
Ruby and the five others continued on, the growling, snarling, howling, and scraping, growing louder by second. Ruby signaled for them to stop, the cries of the Grimm, almost deafening. They dismounted, and positioned the horses, so that the dust lights were pointing at the enemy.
They could now see the Grimm, a mere two hundred meters from them. Like a sea of living darkness, the only discernible feature amongst them all, was the blood red eyes staring through the six of them.
The five Ruby had brought with her, were one of Alpha Company's best teams, and the company's actual commander. All three companies had formed teams, similar to what hunters worked in, shortly before Ruby was given her commision.
"I don't think I'll ever see anything more unsettling, than an army of tens of thousands of Grimm." Captain Ackert, Alpha's commander spoke quietly.
"Well, so long as you don't die, you'll get to see what it looks like when an army of Grimm, gets utterly fucked. I for one, think that's something worth living for, Cap." Spoke the one woman in the team, a fox faunus named Hellen.
"I sure would love to see that." He replied, not caring enough to be bothered by her abreviation of his title.
They then heard the loud rumble of the airship closing in behind them. They continued to stare out at the sea of Grimm, as it approached.
Ruby unfolded Crescent Rose, planting the end in the ground, and pointing it towards the Grimm. She chambered a round, then opened a small chamber behind the weapon's bolt assembly and inserted an electric dust crystal off her belt.
Since Ruby had arrived at the corps, she had modified her weapon greatly. The head of the weapon was now less bulky, and had a slightly longer blade. The rear part of the head, was no longer blunt, with a spiked bottom, instead replace by two curved blades coming out of the back. She had also added a chamber, directly behind the bolt, designed to house dust crystals. This allowed her to add a dust charge to both her weapon, and any rounds she fired.
Ruby's ability to wield dust, was one of the things that had, actually improved greatly, in the last two years. Though, she knew that she certainly wasn't on the level of a certain heiress, she had been acquainted with, she did know that she could now make effective use of dust.
The airship could be heard, closing quickly.
"You guys ready for this shit? Ruby questioned, feeling adrenaline begin to flow.
"You kidding me? The light show is the best part of being the first wave." Ackert said, excitement in his voice
The airship barreled over head, the ramp lowering, revealing a multiple people cloaked in aura. The airship turned, as it came to a stop directly above the Grimm's line. The next moment, was filled with brilliant flashes of light, and thunderous explosions, as the Redemption Corps let loose dust, and semblance powered attacks.
Ruby had decided after her first battle, that the greatest way to protect the rest of the people in the corps, was to teach them to protect themselves. She saw fit, to unlock the aura of everyone in the corps, then teaching them to use it. Of course she didn't do it by herself, having taught the first few individuals, how to do so as well.
After a minute or so, the barrage let up, and the airship circled back over to their location, dropping lower as it did. Ruby then pointed her weapon behind her, and crouched low pumping aura into her legs.
"Keep up if you can." Ruby teased, suddenly disappearing with a loud,'bang', leaving nothing but empty space where she had just stood.
"Fuck, she's hot." Hellen said breathlessly, eliciting laughter from her teammates, as the airship landed. The men of Alpha Company, running off the vessel and towards the waiting battle.
After a few bounds, Ruby landed just inside the Grimm's flank.
"Hey, motherfuckers." Ruby said in a cold tone.
A single flash of steel could be seen, as blood and body parts flew. Ruby immediately pressed forward, swinging her scythe down from her right shoulder slicing an ursa in two, spinning it around over her opposite shoulder, she cut off the legs of an attacking ursa.
Ruby jumped back as a beowolf lunged at her. Feeling an attack bearing down from her rear, Ruby activated the dust crystal in Crescent Rose, spinning it above her head, lightning arced off the blade sending nearby Grimm flying. Ruby noticed another ursa raise it's claws to swing at her, at the same time hearing a boarbatusk charging at her from the opposite direction. Ruby hopped into the air, bringing the blade of her weapon straight up, she sliced the ursa's head up the middle, as she felt the boarbatusk pass under her feet, she pumped aura into her legs, stomping down on it's head.
Feeling blood and bone explode under her feet, she stepped to the side, dodging and slicing a couple more Grimm. Ruby heard the rest of the corps battling, as she continued to dance through the Grimm, slicing and shooting her way through the horde.
Deciding she had given them a good head start, Ruby readied to use her aura to move onto her main targets. Ruby watched the world turn into a blur, and listened as all sound faded to an indiscernible whine. A shockwave assaulted everyone nearby, and a loud,'pop', hit their ears, as they watched their leader disappear into thin air, a second later, rose petals filled the battlefield.
Ruby had landed in the middle of the hoard, staring down multiple Grimm large enough to be buildings. It was discovered, when the hoard was first reported, that elder Grimm had shielded themselves in the middle of hoard, leaving the more plentiful, smaller Grimm, to take the brunt of the battle.
Even with all the training she had put the Redemption Corps through, Ruby didn't feel confident enough to let them go against these monsters. Instead, choosing to take them on herself. Luckily, she found that the older Grimm would pay her no heed, unless she picked a fight herself. This allowed her to take the more dangerous Grimm, one at a time.
Ruby picked her first target, a massive Grimm covered in thick plates. It resembled an Ursa, but Ruby wasn't too sure. It stood roughly seven meters tall, dwarfing Ruby.
"You're first, asshole!" Ruby screamed at it, firing a blindingly fast volley, of dust powered shots. Only one made it between the thick plates, infuriating the beast. It immediately swung it's claws down at Ruby, She effortlessly knocked them aside with a swing of Crescent Rose, and putting a large gash on it's paws. Ruby jumped into the air, transforming Crescent Rose into it's gun form, and landing on the beast's head.
Ruby shoved the weapon down on it's head between two plates, and fired round after round, hearing bone split, and blood fly. The beast fell forward, Ruby stepping off it's head as it hit the ground.
"Who's next motherfuckers?" Ruby questioned aloud, knowing Grimm that old, at least understood that she was taunting them.
Ruby heard the cry of a nevermore overhead, in response to her challenge. A moment later, the whistling of feathers, cutting through the air, could be heard. Ruby jumped into the air, kicking off of one of the incoming feathers, and bringing herself face to face with a massive nevermore. The beast dived, Ruby just barely managing transform Crescent Rose, and use it to latch on in time. The nevermore came close to the ground, and with a single, mighty beat of it's wings, thrust itself back into the air, attempting to knock Ruby off.
Ruby, having jammed the end of her scythe between a group of feathers, once again activated the electric dust crystal, paralyzing the Grimm, and sending it plummeting to the ground. Ruby stood and dislodged her weapon, aiming it at the monster's head. The Grimm flailed about, and knocking her off before she could fire.
Ruby landed on her feet behind the nevermore, as it stumbled forward. Ruby readied her weapon, only to be caught off guard when the nevermore spun around, sending another shower of giant feathers at her.
Realizing she didn't have the room to dodge, Ruby brought Crescent Rose up. She quickly swung the weapon, hitting the tip of a feather and knocking it aside, feeling the massive impact run all the way through her arms. She quickly spun the scythe the opposite direction, redirecting another feather. One last feather made it's way for her, leaving Ruby with no time to bring Crescent Rose around again. Ruby brought her left hand up, off of the weapon, as it's momentum brought it around the right side of her body. Clenching her left hand into a fist and pumping aura into, Ruby waited until the last feather was mere feet from her. Swinging her fist down on top of the feather's tip, Ruby slammed it into the ground in front her.
The assault over, Ruby pressed forward, charging the beast. The nevermore batted it's wings, creating a massive gust of wind, and knocking Ruby off balance. The beast took to the air again, now circling Ruby. Ruby transformed her weapon again, taking aim, and firing at the beast's head. After being hit with a couple with a couple of rounds, the beast turned and dived for Ruby.
Ruby readied herself to dodge, when the nevermore stopped itself with a couple massive beats of it's wings. Once again taking Ruby by surprising, this time the gust strong enough to take Ruby off her feet. Ruby attempted to right herself, when she saw a massive talon bearing down on her. Having no other choice, Ruby activated her semblance, kicking her feet about in search of anything solid. She was rewarded when she felt her toe press against the ground, immediately kicking herself out of harm's way. The sudden unbalanced movement, sending Ruby sprawling across the ground, away from the nevermore.
Ruby shoved herself onto a knee, facing the creature. She looked up to see it pull it's wings back, likely readying another barrage of feathers. In a panic, Ruby quickly ejected the dust crystal from her weapon, throwing it at the Grimm. Ruby took quick aim and fired a round, impacting the dust crystal as it neared her target.
The result was an explosion of light, as electricity arced off both the creature, and herself. Ruby, deciding she couldn't spare the aura to stop the electricity, just grabbed the ground and braced herself. The nevermore, caught off guard, fell to the ground and writhed about, as the electricity surged through the body of both it and it's attacker.
The beast, infuriated by the attack, pulled back it's wings and let out a great cry. Preparing to finish it's target, it looked down to see only rose petals. The beast had a brief moment of confusion, when it felt a foot land on the bottom of its open jaws. Ruby pulled a red crystal from her belt, and tossed it into the creature's open maw. Pulling up Crescent Rose, Ruby quickly aimed and fired.
The resulting explosion, creating a massive fireball in the creature's throat. Pieces of the grimm's head were blown every direction, leaving the nevermore's headless, flaming corpse laying on the ground.
Ruby, having had the sense to use her semblance before being swallowed by the plume of fire, landed about a dozen meters from her dead target. Ruby, still reeling from the pain she had brought on herself earlier, forced herself to continue on. Standing on shaking legs, Ruby scanned for her next target.
"Son of a bitch, that sucked." Ruby groaned.
Some time later, Ruby had just finished with another Ursa like, elder Grimm, when she heard the blaring sound of a horn. The sound signaled that an hour had elapsed, and thus was time to retreat. Ruby once again, prepared her semblance, and jumped back to the rest of Alpha Company. Ruby landed and quickly surveyed her surroundings, seeing Alpha Company regrouping and waiting for her.
"Pull back to the rally point! Support teams will cover the retreat!" Ruby shouted out commands, as she made her way through the Grimm.
Alpha Company began to run back to the point where the support teams, and horses were staged. Ruby trailed behind them, covering their retreat as best as she could. Ruby fired off rounds and dust, as quick as she could target the pursuing Grimm.
The rumbling and whine of the airship, could now be heard clearly, as it closed in on them.
"Let's go! Bravo will take care of the rest!" Ruby shouted of the sounds of battle.
Arriving back at the rally point, Ruby and the team that had accompanied, her all quickly mounted their horses. The airship arrived at the same time, light and noise erupting from the rear, as the hatch lowered. Bullets, dust, and semblances exploded in every direction, as Bravo Company cut off the pursuing Grimm forcing them back.
Ruby and the five others rode back towards the south, as the rest of Alpha formed up to get on the airship.
"Ackert, report!" Ruby commanded Bravo's commander.
"We should have made our target, god knows though. Three casualties, five wounded." Ackert replied.
"Meet up with Stevens on your way back. Once you've finished setting up camp, start getting ready for the next attack." Ruby ordered the man.
"Can you keep this up?" He questioned her.
Ruby's eyes met his for a brief moment, before she yanked on the horse's reigns, splitting off towards the southeast.
A couple minutes later, Ruby met up with the six riders from Bravo Company, turning her horse around and slowing down, to match their pace.
"Sgt. Evans, you have something for me." Ruby told the lead man.
"As cold as ever. To be honest, it kinda turns me on." He replied sarcastically.
"Hand it over smart ass!" Ruby ordered.
Evans reached down and grabbed a bandolier of ammo and dust, and tossed it to Ruby.
"Its good to see you too."
Ruby scoffed at his remarks. Ruby never liked the man, but regardless of her personal feelings, he was smart and a good leader. She had once hunted him, and ten others down after they had attempted to escape. Instead of killing him, she had decided to put him to use managing Bravo Company.
"Also, God sent a message." He informed her.
"Good news?" Ruby questioned.
"Of course. The storm turned and is heading south, reinforcements may not be able to come for at least a week." He said sarcastically.
"So we don't have to share any of the fun, huh?"
Ruby replied in kind.
"I knew if anyone would understand, it'd be you."
He joked.
The conversation ended, as they arrived at the point where the rest of Bravo Company was assembling.
"The hour starts now! Move!" Ruby shouted, not slowing down.
A second later, Ruby yanked on the reigns a of her horse, forcing it to stop. As the horse reared back, Ruby disappeared from it's back, enveloping the horse in rose petals. Ruby charged once again, into the sea of darkness before her.
Four days later, a haggard looking Ruby rode into the Redemption Corps' camp with the airship carrying what remained of Charlie company.
The current encampment was established at the base of the mountains, cutting off the pass leading to the railroad tunnel that housed sheltering civilians. All the people from the northern towns, and a few living in the mountains had been evacuated there. The total number reaching over a thousand people.
They were unable to retreat any further. Not without sacrificing those people. She could try and evacuate them further into the mountains, however most wouldn't survive such a dangerous trek. The inclimate weather and lack of daylight didn't help the odds either.
Ruby rode into camp and quickly tied up her horse, as Stevens approached her.
"You look like shit." He proclaimed jokingly.
Ruby snatched a canteen of water out of his hands and started walking. "Yet no matter how shitty I look, I can't get guys to stop ogling me."
"Well to be fair there ain't much else to ogle out here", He teased in response. "And there's no reason to be sexist about the matter. We both know the guys aren't the only ones ogling you."
"Uuggh, please don't remind me." Ruby said shivering.
"Getting checked out by other women bothers you that much?" Stevens questioned.
"No, it's just a huge turn on is all" Ruby said casually.
Stevens suddenly choked and coughed, caught off guard by Ruby's response.
"It makes me happy to know, I can even make a dirty old bastard like you uncomfortable." Ruby said slyly.
Stevens let out a deep sigh, "God wanted to see you, when you finish, up go get some rest."
"I'll try." Ruby replied, walking off. The horde was still far stronger than what remained of the corps. To make matters worse they had nowhere left to retreat, however the storm had begun to let up.
Even with the odds Ruby had decided to remain optimistic. She walked through the camp, the signs of exhaustion among her and her men couldn't be more obvious. She looked over the men she passed by prepping weapons, sleeping, and tending to their wounds. Ruby kept a resolute expression on her face, contradictory to many of her men.
Ruby walked into the Colonel's tent, only for her sense of smell to be assaulted by the stench of alcohol. Looking around, she saw Colonel Faught slumped over his makeshift desk, a red tint on his cheeks.
"Fuck's sake old man!" Ruby said angered at the sight. "Have you been drinking? Where in the fuck did you even get…"
Ruby stopped and picked up a glass jar off the desk, smelling it. "The fucking moonshine. How'd you even get this shit?"
He chuckled, "They call me God for a reason Captain." He sat up at what was currently his desk. Though in reality it was a collapsible card table, housing a radio and some papers. "I was saving it to celebrate with, but I suppose dying drunk is a decent alternative."
Ruby rolled her eyes at his drunken state. Though she realized that this likely meant she wasn't getting the news she was hoping for. "What do you need old man? Have you heard about our reinforcements?"
He began chuckling again. "You know, any other man of my rank would see you hung for your lack of respect." In fact Ruby had dropped most formalities with the man over a year ago.
"Would you answer the question, sir!" Ruby exclaimed sarcastically.
Suddenly, it seemed as if the Colonel sobered up a great deal. He let out a deep sigh, "You have fought valiantly, Ruby Rose." He reached into his pocket, before pulling it out and handing Ruby a small white piece of plastic.
"I believe this was your goal for coming here. I'd like you to hurry and escape." He said solemnly.
Ruby looked down to see a Hunter's license with her name and picture on it. She looked back up to stare the Colonel in his eyes. "No, I came to get an answer to my question. I'm not leaving until you give it to me."
He sighed again, before looking down. "They're not coming. No one is coming."
The news came as an enormous shock to Ruby, however she would not let it show on her face.
"General Ironwood has decided to set up a defensive line in Northern Atlas, and evacuate civilians as far south as possible. The military feels that if they sent anyone now, they'd get pushed into the mountains. They'd be at too much of a disadvantage." The Colonel said in a dry tone.
Ruby took a deep breath, clenching her fists. "General Ironwood is correct, but that doesn't mean he's right." Ruby said, her voice full of anger. She turned and began walking towards the door.
"Miss Rose!" The Colonel exclaimed, making Ruby stop. "Are you going to take your Hunter's license?"
"No, I'm going to fight." Ruby said before continuing out of the tent.
He sighed, before sinking back down to his chair. He looked over the little piece of plastic.
"Ruby Rose, it sounds far nicer than her old name."
Ruby marched through the camp, looking for Stevens and the other Captains. Spotting Sgt Evans she decided she would settle for him.
"Sgt Evans!" Ruby called.
"How can I help you ma'am?" He asked as he walked over to her?
"Where is Captain Ackert and Jennings?" Ruby questioned.
Sgt Evans looked out towards the Grimm making their way over the horizon. "You'd have to ask them." He spat out.
Ruby grinded her teeth, "Tell all available men to be assembled in fifteen minutes."
"Roger ma'am." Came his curt reply.
"And have you seen Stevens?" Ruby asked.
"I think Daddy is over at the sand table with some of the other…." He said mockingly, unable to finish his statement, before Ruby had grabbed him by his neck and slammed him into the ground.
"Go ahead and finish that fucking sentence." Ruby said coldly.
Evans' eyes went wide and darted around, as if he was waiting for someone to help. Realizing he obviously wouldn't get any sympathy he spoke again. "My… my apologies ma'am, I was out of line."
Ruby began giggling, before letting go and moving to full blown laughter. Many of the nearby men doing the same. "Oh my god, I really thought you'd shit your pants."
Evans face turned red, as he took Ruby's hand as she helped him up. "You bitch."
"Evans, if you want to hit on girls, you probably shouldn't turn around and make fun of their daddy issues later." Ruby joked.
The two went their separate ways, as Ruby headed towards the sand tables and Stevens watching her.
"How many times, do I have to tell you play nicely with the other kids Ruby?" Stevens teased Ruby, as she approached.
"Aaaaawww, but he started it." She pouted, trying to contain her laughter.
Stevens face got serious, "So how bad is it?"
"You just assume it was bad news?" Ruby protested.
"That wasn't a joke, you overreacted. You don't lose your head like that normally. You did a decent job of playing it off though." Stevens stated bluntly.
"You can be a real pain in the ass." She replied.
"Hard not to be, when I have to deal with you all the time." He answered.
Ruby heard someone clear their throat. Looking past Stevens Ruby realized some of the sergeants were also present. "Oh, hey sergeants?"
"There's going to be an assembly soon, if I could have you guys move over to the assembly area, with everyone else." Ruby informed them.
They all nodded and headed off, one pausing briefly to pat Stevens on the shoulder. "Must be rough man." He joked, eliciting a chuckle from Stevens and a glare from Ruby.
Once they had left, there was a brief moment of silence between the two of them.
"Ironwood decided not send anyone. They're abandoning us." Ruby said solemnly.
Stevens expression lowered. "Then we take everyone that's left and escape." He demanded.
"If that's what you want, then you've had the option since the beginning." Ruby replied.
"Ruby don't be stubborn. We have done everything we can, if Atlas is abandoning us then why continue to fight?" He pleaded.
"And what about all the people in the shelter?" Ruby questioned.
"We…they wouldn't make it. It's not your fight Ruby. Shit, your time in the corps ended months ago!" Stevens said tearing up.
Ruby reached behind her and pulled her hood up, "It doesn't matter, you know why I chose to stay. Nothing has changed."
"Ruby, your convoluted sense of justice is going to get you killed. You don't owe those people, the corps, or Atlas a damn thing!" He continued to reason with her, freezing tears beginning to run down his face.
"I've been left behind before. I know what it feels like when the whole world gives up on you. So I'll prove Ironwood wrong." With that Ruby turned and walked away.
Ruby began making her way to the assembly area, when she heard someone yell at her.
"Ma'am I have the situation report, you hadn't asked yet." Alpha's First Sergeant said, as he approached her.
"I know First Sergeant. Hold onto it until everything's over okay?" Ruby said as she made her way over to the rest of the men.
Ruby stood before what remained of her corps, and examined those that remained. Their fatigue evident just by looking at them. Many of them had bandages on, others limped, some shivered. Ruby could feel tears jerking at her.
She took a deep breath, before reaching back and pulling her hood back down.
"Well you all look like shit!" She exclaimed, receiving laughter from the men. Once the laughter quieted down, Ruby steeled herself and spoke again.
"I wanted to come before all of you, and tell you that reinforcements are on the way. I wanted to tell you that everything is over." Ruby took a large shaky breath.
"But that's not what I'm here to tell you. There will be no reinforcements." The corps burst into an uproar at the announcement. The discontent and anger obvious.
"Quiet!" Ruby shouted. "Nothing has changed. My offer still stands. Any man who doesn't wish to fight is free to go. If you wish you can take the airship as far is it'll get you. As far as I understand it is dangerously low on fuel at this point though. For those that stay, regardless of how long you've been here, when this is over you will be free men. I won't force anyone to stay here though. That is all." Ruby finished and turned to walk away when a voice stopped her.
"What about you ma'am?" The one who spoke was Sgt Evans.
Ruby turned back around. "I'll stay here and cover your retreat, obviously Sergeant." Ruby said with a grin on her face.
Many of the men couldn't help but laugh at her joke, though many continued to look downcast. The sound of discontent conversation filling the air.
"Well ma'am, I can't let a fine piece of ass like you go to waste. I'll just have to hang back and wait till your job here is done." He taunted.
Ruby smiled and began walking away, the silence felt deafening.
"You're an idiot." Ruby heard, only to look up and meet eyes with Stevens once again.
"Can't help it. Overly dramatic self sacrifice runs in the family, I guess." Ruby joked, trying to appear alright.
"Well you certainly need to work on your speeches. There was nothing dramatic or inspiring about that." Ruby heard another voice, that she recognised as the self proclaimed God.
"Wow, pretty rare to see you out of your tent. Special occasion?" Ruby taunted.
"Of course. It isn't every day you get to die in battle, by the side of a beautiful woman." He teased back.
"Hellen decided to stay and fight?" Stevens questioned.
The Colonel broke out in laughter, as Ruby stated Stevens down.
"You should hurry up and get ready to move. The Grimm will be here in a couple hours, and you'll want as much of a head start as possible." Ruby told Stevens coldly.
"If you think I'm running away, then you're dead wrong. If you won't run then I won't." Stevens answered.
Ruby's face flashed over with rage, grabbing his collar and yanking him down to eye level. "What the hell is wrong with you! You were the one that begged me to run away!" Ruby shouted.
" There's no point in running if you're going to stay here." He told her.
"I'm not going to let you stay here and die!" Ruby shouted.
Ruby felt a sharp pain across her face, and tears stinging at her eyes. Ruby remembered the last time she was smacked felt nothing but rage, this time all she felt was sorrow. The Colonel quietly turned and walked away.
"Quit being selfish. You've kept me in the rear this entire time, but you can't keep trying to protect me. I'm in better shape than any other member of the corps right now." He stated sternly.
"You won't change your mind?" Ruby questioned quietly through gritted teeth.
"No." Came his simple response.
Ruby suddenly threw herself into Stevens, and wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't you dare die, you asshole!" Ruby shouted trying to hold back sobs.
"Same goes for you kid." He said softly, and hugged her back. After a moment of silence he pushed her off, "Now, go out there and be the leader that those people need. Go prove to the world why you deserve to be called a huntress."
Ruby smiled. "You really think anyone else will be stupid enough to stay?" She questioned.
"Well ma'am none of us got sent here because of our intelligence." A voice answered her. The same First Sergeant from before was the source. "I have that sitrep for you now ma'am."
Ruby sighed. "Save it, it really doesn't matter how many stayed. Have everyone prepare to battle. We are going to hold this position, that should give everyone about two hours rest."
"Yes ma'am. Do you have a plan?" He questioned.
"It's less than two hundred men against, what is still likely around twenty thousand Grimm. We could pull back into the pass, to keep from being surrounded however to go far enough for that to work, we'd give them access to the tunnel housing the evacuees. So we have no choice, but to fight them on open ground with a mountain at our backs." Ruby rambled out.
"Well, it looks like our enemies may have a fair fight coming their way for once." Stevens joked.
"They have two hours to be ready First Sergeant." Ruby informed him.
"Well I like our odds ma'am." He joked and walked off.
The Colonel came back up shortly after. "Well Captain it would seen that I spoke too soon. The only ones leaving are those incapable of fighting due to injury."
"I suppose the stupidity must be contagious." Ruby joked. "I'm going to go try and get some rest, and Colonel make sure you save some of that grog from before." The Colonel chuckled as Ruby left.
Despite her best attempt Ruby was unable to get much rest. Her mind was constantly running through the upcoming battle. She eventually gave up and decided to focus on weapon maintenance. Checking over Crescent Rose again and again. Ensuring there were no issues in transformation, sharpening the blade, running through functions checks on the rifle portion. Ruby had just finished reassembling Crescent Rose after cleaning it and lubing it, when Stevens poked his head into her tent.
"It's time kid." Was all he said.
Ruby stood and snapped Crescent Rose into it's holster on her back. Walking out of the tent, she was once again greeted by the deafening sounds of the innumerable Grimm approaching. Ruby turned to see a sea of darkness, illuminated only by countless red beads less than a kilometer from her.
Ruby heard the Airship's engines spinning up, as it prepared to take off.
"They're about to evac the wounded in the ship." Stevens said.
"They're just now leaving?" Ruby asked confused.
"They said that they wanted to make sure the wounded were well rested before moving them." Stevens informed her.
"Yea right, as long as they aren't planning anything too stupid." Ruby scoffed.
Ruby reached into her belt and grabbed a magazine, feeding it into her weapon. Luckily, the supply depot that the corps' weapons and ammo are transported through, had been resupplied just before everything went to hell. They had been able to restock just a couple days prior. Ruby still felt that they were lacking in firepower, however an additional ten thousand troops wouldn't hurt either.
Joining the rest of the waiting corps men Ruby made her way to the front, with Stevens by her side. She found the Colonel standing up front, holding a large war axe. Stevens on the other hand wielded a longsword and a large shield.
"This is quite the surprise! God himself has decided to grace the frontlines with his presence." Ruby mocked the Colonel.
"Yes, well everywhere is the frontlines now isn't it? However if I'm going to die it'll be on my feet." He answered.
At this point the Grimm had begun to charge at them, the airship's roar drowning them out as it took to the air. It turned and lowered the rear hatch, revealing all the wounded warriors sitting on the back.
A second later, light erupted as volleys of bullets and dust fueled explosion tore through the ranks of the Grimm. Ruby planted her foot firmly into the ground, readying her aura she activated her semblance. In the next moment the world as Ruby knew it melted away. Ruby could see bullets in the air as she approached them from behind, could feel the ground shake beneath her feet. With one final kick against the ground, Ruby activated the red crystal in Crescent Rose and started moving it in unrelenting arcs around her body.
Ruby heard the rest of the corps charging In after her. Ruby was quickly making her way through some of the lesser Grimm before she jumped to the heart of the horde. Ruby suddenly found herself face to face ,with a towering goliath.
"You're gonna regret fucking with me." Ruby spat out before disappearing. Ruby reappeared on top of the beast, bringing Crescent Rose over her head and down to slice through the goliath's spine. Ruby recoiled when her scythe bounced off the beast's skin, just before she was thrown off by a charging Nevermore.
Back on the ground, Ruby took aim at the goliath. Firing a volley of shots, Ruby watched them bounce off the beast. Feeling air blowing at her back, she activated her semblance and jumped into the air just in time to the nevermore swoop under her feet.
Ruby stomped down, slamming the creature into the ground, at the same time switching her weapon to rifle mode. Ruby took aim at it's head plate and let off a volley of shots just above its right eye. Seeing a crack form as The beast pushed itself to It's feet, Ruby quickly grabbed an earth crystal from her belt and slammed it into the crack, activating it and watching the side of the monster's head get covered in stone.
The nevermore pushed itself into the air and let out a great cry, throwing Ruby back onto the ground. It began circling Ruby, It's left eye glaring at her. The goliath at her back began to charge at her. Ruby continued to watch the nevermore, suddenly firing a couple shots at it, it turned to the left and launched a volley of massive feathers at Ruby. Ruby quickly began charging towards the goliath, using her semblance to toss herself to the side just as the great monstrosity slumped onto the ground in front of her.
She looked up to see it impaled by numerous nevermore feathers. Ruby let out a sigh of relief, knowing that her plan had worked. Looking up to see the nevermore diving at her once again, Ruby let off a salvo of dust charged rounds. Aimed at the beast's injured right side, preventing it from dodging, the rounds threw it off course. The beast instead impacting the ground near Ruby. Ruby stepped onto it's head, aiming at the rock covered section of it's head, Ruby emptied her magazine sending rock, bone, and blood flying.
The beast went still, before it began evaporating. Ruby quickly reloaded her weapon, before she heard a great roar off to her side. Reacting quickly, she lept to the side just in time to see a couple massive ursa slam their claws down on the still nevermore.
Ruby ejected the red crystal from her weapon, throwing it at the monsters. At the same time Ruby readied her weapon, letting off a single round as the crystal approached the head of one of the ursa. A massive plume of flame cut through the darkness, enveloping the two ursa causing them to let out great cries.
Ruby quickly reached to her belt and grabbed a green crystal, slotting it into her weapon she let off several wind charged shots into the two ursa. The power of the wind dust causing the flames enveloping the beasts to become a great inferno. Their cries continued for a moment longer, before they collapsed onto the ground.
"You're pretty hard to keep up with, you know kid?" Ruby heard the familiar voice cut through the cries of Grimm.
"Well no one said you had to keep up old man."
Ruby joked, before quickly dodging a swipe from another massive Ursa's claws.
Stevens' sword cut through the darkness, taking the passing claw off of the beast and eliciting a great cry from it.
"Well who else is gonna babysit you?" He taunted.
As the beast tilted its head back to cry out, Ruby lept onto it's face and shoved the muzzle of her weapon into it's open jaws. Ruby let off several rounds straight down it's throat, covering her in more Grimm material. Ruby ejected her magazine, as the beast collapsed under her, stepping off and reloading as it hit the ground with a loud 'thud'.
"How'd you even get all the way over here?" Ruby asked.
"I wish I could say I was good enough to get here myself, but Evans and God made a hole for me." He replied, readying his sword and shield at the sight of a charging boarbatusk.
Ruby scoffed and stepped in front of him. Holstering her weapon, Ruby pumped aura into her arms and legs reaching out towards the approaching beast. As it closed on her, Ruby grabbed it tusks, bracing herself she felt Stevens press his shield into her back. Ruby felt herself and Steven's slide backwards, as the beast came to a halt, snarling and snapping at her.
Ruby brought her right foot up and pressed it against the monster's lower jaw, prying it's mouth open. Stevens quickly brought his sword under Ruby's arm, and shoved it through the upper palate of the creature's mouth.
"You know I've always hated dealing with them." Stevens whined as he yanked his sword from it's mouth.
"I know I always get covered in Grimm spit." Ruby whined in reply.
"That really isn't my problem with it." He said dejectedly.
Ruby shot him a shit eating grin, as she unholstered Crescent Rose, and transformed it into it's scythe form. Sidestepping, as a beowolf lunged at her Ruby spun her scythe, amputating the beast's legs. Stevens brought his shield up and slammed it onto the neck of the monster, resulting in a satisfying 'crunch'.
The two of them heard loud clicking, and hissing noises approaching them. "Fuck, I really hate these things" Steven's bitched, staring at the approaching deathstalkers.
Ruby moved to stand next to him. "You know the plan?" Ruby questioned.
"Yea, doesn't mean I like it." He answered her.
With that, Ruby disappeared. Bringing her scythe around in a massive arc, Ruby slammed it into a joint in the first deathstalker's leg. Disappointed when she felt a shock through her arms, as Crescent Rose bounced off the monster. Looking up she saw the glow of it's stinger close in on her.
Not flinching, Ruby stayed where she was, and was rewarded with a loud 'bang'. Stevens held his shield over her head, a familiar blue glow coming from it. Ruby recognized this as Stevens' semblance, repulsion. Though it wasn't strong enough for him to use unarmed, when paired paired with a sword and shield, it was quite helpful.
The glow still present, Stevens brought his shield down and slammed into the same joint, resulting in a loud 'crack', as the leg collapsed.
"How about you leave this job to the grownups, kid?" He mocked.
"Psh, show off."Ruby replied, before spinning her scythe and knocking away the on coming stinger.
Ruby continued to keep the monster's attention, and protect Stevens as he went around immobilizing the deathstalker. Once they no longer had to worry about it's movement, they did the same with the creature's tail.
Stevens used all his strength to puncture the plate covering the creature's head, once this was done, Ruby would blast the weak spot until the Grimm died. This process was far more efficient when you had more people, and the creatures themselves weren't as old and powerful. Unfortunately, Ruby had no control over their piss poor circumstances.
This process was repeated a few more times, until they were finishing with the final deathstalker. Ruby had lept onto the deathstalker's head to finish it off. Pulling the trigger, and receiving a click, Ruby realized her magazine was empty. She quickly reached down to grab another, when she heard the monster groan and shift underneath her.
Looking up Ruby saw the bright point of the beast's stinger whip towards her. She felt a sudden weightlessness, and looked to see Stevens had shoved her out of the way.
Thinking fast Ruby activated her semblance and activated the wind crystal in her weapon at the same time. Spinning her weapon around and unleashing a massive gust, Stevens was thrown from the monster just in time, for it's stinger to slam down and pierce it's own head.
Ruby landed and tumbled, also tossed by the rebounding wind crystal. Quickly pushing herself to her feet, and scanning the area, Ruby found Stevens doing the same.
"Fuck! Stevens are you okay?" Ruby screamed across the frozen plain.
Stevens opened his mouth to answer, when massive roar split the silence. From the darkness a massive claw reached out, slicing through Stevens and throwing him across the frozen ground. Ruby looked to see the claw attached to a burnt out husk of an Ursa. Covered in melted and charred flesh, Ruby immediately recognized it as one of the two from before.
Activating her semblance, in the blink of an eye Ruby was above the beast. Faster than the human eye could see, Ruby swung Crescent Rose down and impaled the monster's head. Leaving her weapon, Ruby jumped to Stevens' side before the ursa even hit the ground.
Ruby saw the massive gashes in his torso. Blood and guts leaking from him, the wounds were all too familiar to Ruby.
"Shit, shit, shit. Stevens' I'm gonna get you out of here. You're gonna be fine." Ruby said panicked,trying to hold back sobs.
Stevens reached over and grabbed her hand. " I'm sorry I failed again, kid."
Ruby felt hot tears begin to flow down her face.
"What the hell are you talking about? You never failed. You did great."
"I'm not going to make this time." He said in a raspy voice.
"You're wrong, you'll be perfectly fine." Ruby sobbed.
"You know, I'm so proud of you. No matter what anyone says, I'm convinced…. you are the greatest huntress in the world." He choked out.
Ruby couldn't talk at this point, consumed by sobbing. She realized that at some point, Evans and the Colonel had made their way to her location and were struggling to keep the Grimm away from them.
"Hey kid, don't cry. You're too strong for that. Besides, I suppose I'll get to see my other daughter now." He struggled to say.
Ruby could feel him getting colder.
"Please save yourself kid." He whispered, struggling to stay conscious.
Ruby sat there crying. She could feel his heart stopping, feel his body growing cold.
Ruby looked up and took deep breath. She tried to think of what to do now. She knew that the battle wasn't over. No matter how much she struggled, nothing came to her. She had no thoughts, all that was left to her was her anger, her sorrow.
Looking out over the darkness, Ruby made up her mind. "Fuck this."
Ruby calmly walked over and pried Crescent Rose out of the ursa. She used her semblance to dart over to the Colonel. In a single instant the Grimm he was battling, exploded into pieces. Ruby appeared In front of the Colonel, rose petals continuing to fly from her body.
"Signal for them to retreat." Was all she said.
"Are you insane? Pull yourself together Rose!" He screamed at her.
Ruby grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down to her level. "I said, give the signal for retreat. I'll take things from here." Ruby said coldly.
"You're sure?" He questioned.
"No one else dies." With that Ruby disappeared, leaving a cloud of rose petals. Ruby pushed herself through the battlefield, killing everything in sight. A moment later she heard the horn signal for retreat.
She found the rest of her men, as they turned to retreat a pack of beowolves began to pursue. Ruby cut them off, with a single dust infused swing of her scythe, blood and rose petals filled her vision.
Nearby, a deathstalker turned to engage her. Ruby disappeared and reappeared above it. Aiming her weapon up, she fired into the air propelling herself down and spinning, Ruby sunk the blade of her weapon through it's plate covered head.
Seeing more Grimm closing in, Ruby ejected the wind crystal and chucked it towards the horde of grimm. Shooting it out of the air, a massive gust of wind d exploded sending the creatures flying backwards.
Ruby grabbed three red crystals off her belt, repeating the action this time a massive fireball covering the battlefield. While they were stopped Ruby grabbed an ice crystal and tossed it towards her retreating men, shooting it and creating a barrier behind them.
Ruby activated her semblance, and in a single movement loaded another crystal, then shot herself through the inferno. Ruby found herself surrounded by a small pack of creeps. They lunged at Ruby. She raised her foot and kicked the first one's skull in. Activating the crystal in her weapon, lightning shot out killing the rest of the creeps.
Ruby heard a rumbling behind her, throwing herself into the air and flipping backwards she looked down to see a King taijitu pass under her. Ruby began pumping rounds into it's back. The bullets doing little more than breaking the skin.
Ruby landed and the beast began to curl around her. Activating the crystal again, and spinning her weapon, she locked the creature in place and sliced it into pieces.
Crescent Rose hoisted across her shoulders Ruby continued to march across the frozen battlefield, destroying any Grimm that opposed her.
Ruby had found herself completely surrounded, however it seemed as if the horde had stopped moving. The fury of that dark sea, bearing down on her.
Ruby could feel her fatigue setting in. She had taken more than one blow at this point. She looked down to see that she was on her last magazine and dust crystal. To Ruby it seemed as if time itself had ceased to exist, she was completely unable to fathom how long she had been fighting.
"Well, it seems that you fuckers might finally have a fair fight on your hands." Ruby said viciously. "Give me your worst."
A beowolf lunged at Ruby, instantly being split in two. In a single step, Ruby moved past it to stare up at the glowing eyes of an Ursa. Slicing it's gut open, Ruby stepped around it and put a bullet through its skull as it fell.
She felt claws bearing down on her, crouching down an explosion of silver flashes filled the air. Multiple Grimm falling to pieces around her. More ursa charged her, more ursa fell.
A beowolf swung at Ruby from behind, Ruby spun out of the way taking it's head with her. Seizing the moment, a boarbatusk caught her off guard, it's charge sending her rumbling across the ground.
Immediately catching herself, Ruby righted herself and activated her semblance. Spinning Crescent Rose in an unceasing pattern around her body, Ruby launched herself between countless Grimm. Landing, Ruby began to look for her next target, not bothering to look at the trail of carnage she had left.
Ruby felt the ground shake, and looked to a goliath approaching her. "You wanna piece of this asshole?"
More petal filled the battlefield as Ruby launched herself at the face of the goliath. Speed towards it, Ruby swung her weapon with all her strength and slammed it into the beast's face. She felt her arms quiver, as her scythe rebounded off the thick plate.
With a great shake of it's head, Ruby was sent flying across the battlefield. Slamming into multiple Grimm and falling to the ground, Ruby finally stopped. Pushing herself to her feet she looked back up at the Grimm, to see a massive crack splintering out from the point she had hit it.
Ruby grinned, activating her semblance she launched herself at the monster again. Bringing her scythe over her head and slamming it into the same point, Ruby felt it bounce off the thick plate once again. This time spinning her scythe backwards over her head, and bringing the muzzle back up to point at the fracture point.
Unloading, Ruby fired into the goliath's skull over and over again, causing herself to launch backwards as the Goliath slammed into the ground. Flipping through the air, Ruby landed and sprung back, up spinning her scythe around her, taking out more Grimm.
Launching herself back into the fray, Ruby activated the final red crystal in her weapon. Swinging her weapon in massive arcs, Ruby sent plumes of fire through the darkness. Ruby saw a beowolf lunge at her, narrowly dodging as it's claws tore into her shoulder. Ruby quickly cut the beast in two, immediately killing two more behind it.
A whistling sound could be heard over head, quickly Ruby used her semblance to move as massive feathers peppered the battlefield. A moment later, she saw the culprit dive for her. Ruby went to dodge only to be knocked off her feet by an Ursa.
Ruby flipped up, seeing the nevermore mere meters from her. Ruby ejected her final dust crystal, jumping into the air, where she was eye to eye with the monsters on either side of her. Ruby spun Crescent Rose around, and hit the red crystal before it could hit the ground. Bracing herself, she brought up as much of her aura as she could.
Once again launched across the battlefield, Ruby felt her consciousness waver as she found herself laying on her back. Ruby felt numb, she felt cold. She had never been so miserable in her life. Ruby knew she couldn't keep fighting.
Ruby pushed herself to her feet once again. Looking out at the darkness, suddenly surprised she noticed a faint light on the horizon. Ruby couldn't help but laugh.
"What a bunch of bullshit." She groaned. "But I'll be damned if I'll die laying down."
The Grimm continued to close in on her. Ruby couldn't even manage to bring up Crescent Rose anymore.
Suddenly, a violent rumbling could be heard over her head. Ruby turned to see the airship approaching her. She also noticed, that it seemed to be losing altitude quite quickly. Ruby chuckled when she realized what they were doing.
"I knew that they were up to something stupid." Ruby grunted.
The airship flew in just over Ruby's head, and continued to fall until it hit the ground. The massive steel machine crushing dozens of Grimm and skidding along the ground.
Ruby appreciated the effort, however she knew it didn't make much difference. She watched the airship sputter as it ran out of fuel. Ruby watched the Grimm climbing over the steel hulk, and prepared herself.
It suddenly dawned on Ruby, that she could still hear the loud roar of airship engines. She turned back once again, her eyes going wide when she saw upwards of a hundred airships soaring towards her. On the side of the airships, Ruby could faintly make out a snowflake emblem, emblazoned across the sides of the ships.
AN: Hey look I actually updated. I know some of you ain't super happy that I didn't post for so long. However I have a busy personal and professional life that takes priority. This chapter was a little tricky for me. I ended up taking out a huge chunk of what I had originally written.
The chapter is currently a little over 10k words, it would have been around 17k if I had left in everything. Length had nothing to do with the decision though. The stuff I took out was going to be from WBY's perspective. Instead I have decided that the story will be told almost solely from Ruby's perspective.
And as you noticed there was a bit of a timeskip. I'm also guessing some of you aren't thrilled over it as you would have liked to read about the two years she spent In the corps. However that isn't what this story is about. There will likely be flashbacks to events that happened during her times there. I'm even considering writing a side story about those 2 years when I finish this story.
Well that's all for now, let me know what you guys think. Also this will end the prologue.