Author's Headnote: Now we'll be approaching the rest of Volume 2's timeline from here on out. Although the events there will be different for sure. Vampirism and all the things that happened in this story will have an effect here. Obviously. Alternation of events and all. But here we're going to skip all those friday tests and just get on with the chain of events that start on "Extracurricular". Although with alterations.
RWBY: Festival of Blood: Extracurricular
Ruby Rose:
Aura Status: 100%
Thirst: Thirsty
Semblance: Wilted Petal Burst
Grades:
- Grimm Studies: B -
- History: B
- Dust Studies: B -
- Combat Practice: B
- Mathematics: C -
- Weapon's Smithing: B +
- Tactics: C +
- Training Missions: C
Team Activity: Done.
Team Relations:
-Weiss Schnee: Not much changed over the week, not much contact because different classes and having detention with Oobleck.
-Blake Belladonna: Ruby's excited to go to the dance with her.
-Yang Xiao Long: She's a bit worried about Ruby. Makes sense, older sister mama-bear instincts kicking in and all.
End of main character status report.
Beacon, Academy, 4:15 PM (In Class, Daylight warning), Friday, Indoor Combat Arena
Pyrrha was setting in... preparing to fight the various members of CRDL for her qualifications. And Ruby just sat back and watched as she was stomping CRDL. Just look at her go. Guess they don't call her the invincible champion of mistral for nothing. Yet again, CRDL's arsenal is almost exclusively melee weapons, it's almost as if they were some side character to a TV-Show. But that's just silly to think about. Anyways. Pyrrha managed to knock them all out in a 1 on 4 match. Qualifying her for the tournament. And that's Team JNPR done. Glynda called the match and announced that Pyrrha has passed qualification.
"Don't forget that your first mission will be the day after the dance. So, no excuses!" Glynda announced.
"We have time for one more match. Blake, you've been rather docile. Perhaps a spar would fix that." Glynda suggested.
"Ya, that sounds like something I'd need." Blake responded.
"Well, very well. Does anyone wish to fight miss Belladonna?"
"Could I fight her instead?" The grey-blued hair guy with black and blue clothing suggested.
"Miss Nikos has just done a fight, perhaps you should fight Blake instead." Miss Goodwitch insisted.
"Besides, I'd like to rest now. I just fought a four-on-one fight. It's not something one can just shrug off." Pyrrha said.
"Well, fine. I guess I'll fight Blake instead. Since you're too chicken to go ahead and fight me!" The man said. Taunting Pyrrha.
"I am tired, I'd like rest. Not a consecutive fight." Pyrrha said, leaving the room.
"Very well, Blake and Mercury will be dueling. Please change into your combat outfits and prepare your weapons for the fight."
The two of them went to the arena and Blake drew her weapon. Where as Mercury entered his combat stance.
Character Change: Ruby Rose - Observer
1v1: Blake Belladonna vs Mercury Black, Beacon Academy (Indoor Combat Arena), Afternoon
The two of them prepared for the duel. And went to greet each other.
"May the best fighter win." Blake said, trying to be a good sport.
"Well, he certainly will be." Mercury said. Speaking in the third person for some reason.
"BEGIN!" Glynda announced.
Mercury started with a somersault kick, in which Blake used her semblance to back up and tank the hit for her while she fires a round. Mercury is thrown out of balance, but he recovers quickly. Blake while mid-air quickly followed with one of her aura-techniques, sword-beam. What? How else would she be able to do that? Of course, this costs some aura to use. Mercury managed to dodge all but one of them. And went in with a revolutionary kick-spinning-top thingy... in mid-air. Slapping Blake's face with his metal boots. Blake used her semblance again to catch Mercury off-guard and used her bow to grab onto one of his legs and slam him across the arena. Landing just at the edge of the arena.
Blake's aura is at the yellow, whilst Mercury's still at green, albeit it's almost at yellow thanks to the ground slam. He's way more experienced than he should be for a first-year student. Yet again, chances are he could have repeated a couple times. But Blake grips onto her weapon. And prepares to fire rounds from it, which Mercury parries with his boot-shotgun blasts.
Blake went in and charged at Mercury which than he prepares to do a kick, but that's when Ruby uses her semblance to catch him off-guard, breaking his balance.
He got up. But instead of continuing to fight, he raised his hand.
"I forfeit!" he stated.
"What?" Blake objected.
"Very well. By rule of forfeit. Blake wins the fight. Although you were winning, why did you forfeit?" Glynda announced, followed by asking.
"I didn't feel like to continue fighting!" Mercury said.
"Remember Mercury, your opponent may not always show mercy when you raise the white flag." Glynda lectured.
Mercury said nothing, and went out of the room.
By Forfeit, Blake wins.
Character Change: Observer - Ruby Rose
Beacon Academy, 6:10 PM, Friday, RWBY Dormitory
Well, that was an interesting turn of events. After a series of tests, the school week is over. That means she can just skip through the daylight hours until the dance. Because she does not like the sunlight. Mostly because she's a vampire, and she doesn't want to get cooked. Besides, she actually hasn't had sleep in over a week. Not like that's slowing her down anyway. But sleep is something nice to have. Her entire team was relaxing. Weiss re-entering lazy mode. Whilst the rest of her team was discussing.
"So ya. Sun will be taking me to the dance on Sunday. What are your plans for the dance ya two?" Yang asked.
"We'll be taking each other!" Ruby said.
Yang paused for a bit. And glared at Blake. Ruby can feel the fiery rage burning from Yang.
"Don't worry, I asked her out." Ruby said to calm down Yang.
"Still. Your date better not have any funny ideas relating to you." Yang uttered.
"Her date is standing right here!" Blake yelled at the third person.
"Blake. I understand we're friends. But I suggest you don't touch my sister anywhere that would be censored by a black bar, it would be incredibly unhealthy." Yang threatened.
Silence is in the room. With the awkwardly made threat. Ruby just restarts the topic so it doesn't go anywhere bad.
"So ya, I'll be taking Blakey here to the dance." Ruby announced.
"Blakey?" Blake asked.
"You don't like it?"
"It's not something people call me, it's just not something I'm used to."
"Well... do you like it... Blakey?"
"It's just well... unexpected." Blake blushed.
"You like it." Ruby teased it.
"OH MY GOD! JUST KISS YOU TWO!" Weiss yelled across the other room in the dorm.
And than Ruby heard some knocking.
"I'll get that." Ruby said, excusing herself from the conversation. She went to open the door. Only to see Jaune. With a guitar. Ruby was just staring in confusion.
"Uhhh... Is Weiss here?" Jaune asked awkwardly.
"Yes, although she's a bit in a lazy mood right now." Ruby answered.
"Oh. You see I was going to ask her out with the... ya'know because I expected her to answer the door." Jaune said.
"Did you just get a guitar just to practice this?"
"Uhhh... yes... could you just... pass on the message to her?"
"I am right here you know!" Weiss shouted.
"Well, do you want to go to the dance with me!?" Jaune asked.
"Fine. I guess I'll go with you on Sunday. But no romance stuff!"
"Very well, it's a non-romantic date than!"
Ruby just closed the door. Jaune could be heard minorly celebrating. From across the door. Yet again, he's right next to it. Ruby was done that was over with. No shenanigans with Jaune trying to woo Weiss until after the dance. It was amusing to watch at first. But now it's just sad. Even more sad now that Ruby can feel the rejection from Jaune. Why does her vampirism give her this ability? Ruby's unclear of that. But that's not the point. The point is her entire team now has dates to the dance. And there's no worrying about them. Ruby can focus on having a fun time at the dance. If she didn't promise to help Blake do additional research on White Fang activity.
Blake gave her Ruby her notebook on this stuff. Let's see here...
From what Ruby has read. The White Fang has been attacking Dust carts only recently. This is only a new task. Before than, they only would attack businessmen that did not serve the White Fang, and before than they were a peaceful organization, lead by her... father? But than he stepped down and someone named Sienna Khan took his place. She enacted the more violent means of protest. However, the local Vale commander, Adam was a bit more... extreme. He really doesn't like humans and tends to be merciless. As said, during a dust cart rate, him and Blake raided one and planted a bomb, however he did not care about the civillians inside the cart. This was the op where Blake abandoned Adam. So... why would he work with Torchwick? No... Torchwick is only a figurehead. Ruby can figure that out easily, but what was their goal?
Well... it would involve dust. Atlassian mechs... and the possible de-activation of Beacon Academy's power system. One hypothesis is that the White Fang plans on destroying the city of Vale altogether. Which makes little to no sense. What would the White Fang gain from destroying a capital city? All that would do is band the other three kingdoms against them and destroy them.
Another hypothesis is that there's something in Beacon Academy that they want. This is a much more likely scenario. But what exactly is in Beacon Academy that the White Fang would want? Or Torchwick? A powerful artifact perhaps?
And putting vampires as a variable chance, the 'Duke of Bloodshire' is likely using them as a front to turn the entire city into their own personal livestock farm. Ruby has overheard a plan like that back at the catacombs. Or thinks she has? Which is definitely the most likely case. If it's not the vampires, then who would be the ringmaster?
Then of course, there's the grimm-queen to consider. If she is real, could she be behind this? Which would explain the first hypothesis, and theoretically the second one. Grimm only want to bring destruction. So it would be typical for their queen to want the same thing.
So that just leaves two possible conclusions. One, the vampires are behind it. Two, it's the grimm queen. It's farfetched, but these are the conclusions Ruby has gone to. She'll need to be doing research. She grabs a bloodpack from the fridge and drinks out of it.
Where as unlike Blake, Ruby can't get tired. So, she can spend more time on this stuff. And the sooner Ruby can figure out why the White Fang are stealing dust shops for no reason, the better. Well. It wouldn't be for no reason. It's not like they are just going to horde dust in a warehouse forever. But they are doing something in Mt. Glenn. And of course, may have something to do with the dust capacitor, but that's assuming they have one there.
And this all done within five minutes while everyone was still awake. Thankfully nobody saw her drink the blood. That would be awkward to explain.
"Ruby... are you studying the white fang stuff that Blake normally does?" Yang asked. Ruby can sense the worry.
"Ya, I promised her I'd do this in her place for now In exchange of goinng to the dance with me." Ruby answered.
"Well, don't stay up all night. Don't want you sleeping in the middle of the day like last week."
"Ya... don't want that." Ruby awkwardly chuckled.
Although Ruby did for once. Being up for a whole week is kind of well... it's not an enduring experience to have. She was only up at daylight hours because there's no night classes. Ruby was never convinced her condition would make things easy. Ruby will be out studying the White Fang activities. Hell, she could just sneak in as a tiny nevermore in the industrial district. Infact, why isn't she doing that now?
"Well, I'll be heading out!" Ruby said.
"Alright! Be careful!" Yang said.
Character Change: Ruby Rose - Jaune Arc
Beacon Academy, 7:45 PM, Friday, JNPR Dorm
"Well, she said yes!" Jaune announced.
"Yes, we know. Our dorms are literally across eachother." Ren said.
"Congratulations! When's the wedding?" Nora said.
"Calm down Nora, It's not a romantic date." Jaune stated.
"D'awwww!"
"Anyways, remember those rose petals that you gave me a week ago?" Ren asked.
"Yes, what about them?" Jaune asked back.
"Well, I did some tests. They do in fact, come from a semblance. And it matches the Rose petals Ruby normally would have left behind."
Uh oh, that's past tense.
"Past tense, I don't like the sound of that." Jaune said.
"Did Ruby turn evil? If so, she's really doing a good job at hiding it!" Nora stated.
"No, Nora! Ruby is not evil! At least I hope not!"
"Nora, if Ruby were to be evil. The rose petals would be theoretically be black and life-like like the red ones, not red-violet and wilted." Ren stated.
"So, what would she be than?" Nora asked.
"Well, I'd need to do some research on what exactly what caused it. But it wasn't morals. Perhaps a change a personality or state of health."
"Ya think she's sick with a non-viral illness?"
"Well... given that last Friday, her team said she was sleeping in... wouldn't be surprising that she would be sick. But it wouldn't explain why I saw them at night." Jaune stated.
"Wait. Did you say you found them at night?" Ren asked.
"Uhhh... ya. Why?" Jaune asked.
"Wilted rose petals, sleeps at the day, but is up at night." Ren states.
"Don't forget the fact that we haven't seen her eat anything lately!" Nora said.
"Guys, guys! You two sound like you're saying Ruby may be a vampire or something!" Jaune objected out of the thought of it!
"Ya, duh. Because she may be one!" Nora said.
"That's ridiculous, vampires aren't real. They're like werewolves, ghosts, and fairies!"
"Maybe. But we can't ever be too sure. And if she is... chances are we may find out who's responsible for the Beacon Blackout sooner than later." Ren said.
"Ren, Nora. That's just a silly fairy tale. Vampires don't creep up at night. It's just a tale people tell their kids so they don't wander at night!" Pyrrah commented out of nowhere.
"See, Pyrrha gets it! There's no such thing as vampires!" Jaune stated.
"If we just assume a myth is responsible for the Blackout, we'll never get anything done. Let's just hope Ruby and Blake can give us reportings on Mt. Glenn." Pyrrha said.
"But but... aawww... Well, fine. I guess we'll wait until at least Tuesday to find out if the White Fang were responsible or not!" Nora said.
The team went on to do relax and do what they do to prepare for the weekend. Jaune was just happy that Weiss said yes for once. Even if it's not romantic. But Ren and Nora ranting on about vampires? Really? That's silly even for Ren. Vampires aren't real. And if they were, all of remnant would most likely be screwed over like a huge lightbulb! Because there's no chance humanity and faunaskind would survive both grimm and vampires. Sure, one or the other but definitely not both!
Yet again, they do bring some good points. Ruby does seem to act like a vampire. And being her rose petals are wilted... symbolizing she's hypothetically physically dead. It would mean that Ruby would be a vampire, and it was a recent transformation. But there's just one loophole in that logic. Beacon has no night classes and she's been exposed to sunlight because Beacon academy sure love it's windows. So, she wouldn't survive all of that. So why is Ruby acting like all of that? And what is with that bandana? Is she hiding something under there?
Even than. Vampire or no vampire, there's no way Ruby could have been responsible for the Blackout. She was there, in the gymnasium with Him, Yang, and Nora. Along with other students. Jaune trusts Ruby, which is why she and Blake are part of the investigation. Thankfully the police have forgotten all about it. Don't want to get the chief mad again.
Character Change: Jaune Arc - Ruby Rose
City of Vale, 10:00 PM, Friday, Industrial District
Back here again. Although it's risky to go near the white fang in human form, so she's scouting inside the warehouse of where the rally from Monday was. Guess they were just finished from another rally. She snuk in after a finding an opening through an unopened door. And is high-up on the stadium lighting. Although despite spying on the White Fang, Ruby feels like she's being watched.
But anyways, time for her birdbrain (pun intended) to comprehend on whatever the White Fang is up to.
"Hey. So, this Torchwick guy is planning on something to be done at Thursday Morning." One mook said.
"What is it?" The other asked.
"Well, it involves our plan in the south east. And those mechs he showed off."
"Like the one that got destroyed by a beowulf on Monday?"
"Look at the claw shapes dude. That's no beowulf. It's the nostferatu!"
"You mean that grimm that likes to go after faunas?"
"They don't always go after faunas!"
"Clearly, they do, since almost all victims of nostferatu attacks in vale have been nostferatu. Eight of which were our former comrades!"
"Didn't one of the guys that planned a downtown expansion say he had a bitemark similar to the nostferatu bite marks on the news?"
"Ya. Weird. But he's in prison, and not dead."
"So? Which means that chances are this grimm could be here right now, stalking us down!"
"We have a whole army here; we can take on one grimm!"
"Fair point."
Apparently, Ruby's involuntary and voluntary actions as a vampire have not got unnoticed. Thankfully they don't expect the ability to turn into birds, or else Ruby would have been shot down by now. And they don't suspect a thing. Although given that they'd expect birds to sneak in, since she sees a stray crow that wandered in here. Thankfully due to the size of Ruby's nevermore shape, she can be simply mistaken for a crow or raven. And not a nevermore.
"Hey Clyde, how do you think crows somehow end up here?" One mook asked.
"I don't know man, they just like warehouses from what I can tell." The other answered.
"But why is it always just one?"
"What do you mean? There are two here."
"Two?"
"There's another one ontop the stadium lights."
"You think the birds are eavesdropping on us?"
"Don't be ridiculous, who are they gonna tell?"
"They may know morse code."
"Let me ask you this. Who the hell has the patience to teach a bird morse code?"
"Crows are smart birds; they could learn it."
"Nah, I think it's a Raven."
"It's a crow, look at the beak. No hair and it's moderatley large beak."
"Where did you say you got your college degree on again?"
"Poultry Science."
"Poultry is chicken and duck, not just birds in general."
"Bird Biology was my minor."
"Okay, fair point."
They're just arguing about birds now. But Ruby got what she came for. And that's okay. She carefully planned her narrow escape. By going out from the back door. While gliding to the back exit. She used her beak to tap on the door, emulating knocking. And got out of the way so she can walk past the guards. Which went exactly to plan. After getting out. She flapped her wings to get back to Beacon.
Wonder what that crow was doing there. Poor thing must have strayed away from it's murder. Hopefully it'll get back to it's murder soon. As for Ruby, she'll need to get back to her murder... or conspiracy... or an unkindness... or whatever, Ruby's a vampire! Not a bird! So, she should stop thinking like a bird and...
OH, SHOOT LOST CONCENTRATION! I AM FALLING! SHOOT SHOOT SHOOOT!
And than Ruby tried to turn back into a bird before she ends up a blood splatter on Vale. Thankfully just in time. Who knew that transformations were very unstable? But anyways, time to get back to Beacon. Hopefully nobody saw a girl falling out of the sky and turning into a bird.
Beacon Academy, 10:30 PM, Friday, Beacon Courtyard
Ruby was at the courtyard chilling in bird mode. Surprised to see Blake up late at night. So Ruby went and tried to catch her attention by squaking.
Blake turned around and saw Ruby (in bird mode). Although she doesn't know that the bird was Ruby. She walked up toward the bird (which is Ruby) and went to have a talk with her.
"Hey little birdie. You lost or something?" Blake asked.
Ruby nodded her head to 'no'.
"Oh? You're not lost? Tell me little birdie, what are you doing here?" Blake asked the bird (not knowing it's Ruby).
Ruby pointed her head toward Blake and than winked her left eye.
"Good grief, I'm being hit on by a bird. Look, I'm not sure If I can take a bird to the dance on Sunday. And even than, I already have a Date." Blake said.
Ruby acted dumb, twisting her head, looking like she's confused.
"Oh, you'll love her. She's a cute girl. She's kind, sweet, determined, selfless, and well... cute." She spoke. "She's good with weaponsmithing and cooking. She really likes weapons though; she regularly repairs her weapons back in her elective class and on weekends."
Ruby shook her head in interest.
"We're on the same team no less, and my leader. Funny thing is, she reminds me of my ex-boyfriend when was a lot younger. Like her, he was sweet, innocent, and full of dreams. He wanted to be a huntsman and train with sword fighting, he taught me all my sword-fighting skills. Whenever he tried to help people, people didn't see him as a selfless person, people saw him as a 'scheming, dirty, faunas', a monster. His training got more intense and more violent, since he wanted to accelerate his strength growth. He even saved someone from beowulves, and they treat him like he offended their ancestors.
As he grew older, his dreams seem to die out, and he kept growing colder, and I had to remind him that there is still good in the world. To this day, I'm not sure if he listened. He started caring less for others, even for other faunas, and more for being stronger, more powerful. He even started ignoring me for his own personal matters, leaving me in the dark. Funny thing is, he was the one who built my weapon. He built it to specifically be aligned with my fighting style and my semblance. Same thing with his weapon. It's design is pretty well intact and great despite that both weapons were made of poor-quality material.
Eventually, he did become a monster. He started killing innocents just because they were in the way, and I was just an accessory to his crime. He didn't care about me anymore, I'm not sure if he knew it or not. So, I left without a word. Sure, it's cold. But there was nothing I could do. And than, I see her and I saw what he could have been if he had just stayed optimistic during all those times. Sometimes I wonder If I have feelings for a young girl with a big dream, or the man I wished my ex had become instead of what he is now." She ranted to the bird.
Ruby just turned her head in confusion. Does she really see Ruby as a reflection of someone else?
"Well, sure. She grew up in a different environment than him. Especially for not being a faunas. But she has a rare condition that if people knew about it, they wouldn't be sympathizing with her. Hell, chances are they'll treat her like they treated him, if not worse. And than chances are she'll become just like him. And I'm worried that her team is going to find out about it, and... and... well... I don't want to witness someone I have feelings for follow that dark path again. I don't want her to become just like him!" she vented.
Wow. Is that how Blake really feels about me? Well, I guess I'd better go and try to make her feel better.
Ruby went in and flew up to Blake's shoulder, and started to rub on her head.
"Alright birdie, you better not get me sick." Blake said, petting the bird (which is Ruby, but Blake doesn't know that).
Ruby enjoyed the petting. Her finger rubbing against Ruby's bird head leaves a relaxing sensation. Who knew Blake was good touching a bird like this? Although Yang wouldn't like Blake touching Ruby like this. Because it would be awkward to explain.
"Here, let's take you inside. The rest of my team is asleep save for Ruby. Ya, that's her name. And the name of our team is team RWBY. Yes, it does cause confusion." Blake said.
Ruby went ahead and nodded, and she would giggle, if birds could giggle.
Beacon Academy, 11:00 PM, Friday, RWBY Dormitory
Blake was preparing for bed, by taking a shower. She of course went and stripped whens he closed the bathroom door. Guess she doesn't want a bird to see her lady bits. Say... speaking of... this has been the longest time Ruby has been a bird. Shame Ruby couldn't have an opportunity to be a pervert though. Well, better than being slapped to next week.
After getting out of the shower and changing into her pajamas she went to bed.
Following that, Ruby herself, changed back into her human form and tucked her. And went down and grabbed a piece of paper to write something down. And put it on her notebook. Well, the night is dying. May as well enjoy it.
Author's Footnote: I remembered that Ren had a flower petal to analyze. Ya, you think I forgot? Ren and Nora have a correct hypothesis on Ruby, but will they figure out the truth? And I thought of Ruby taking advantage of her bird shape to do some spying. So now they know in addition that something will happen on Thursday at Mt. Glenn. I decided to end the chapter here because I felt like it's appropriate. I also used this to build up something about this world's variation of Adam Taurus. But ya, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc. Leave them in the reviews and see ya next chapter. When my leg wakes up.