Author's Headnote: Now we get into the kaboom you guys have been waiting for. You excited? I'm excited.

RWBY: Festival of Blood: Knife to the Heart

Blake Belladonna:

Aura Status: 100%

Semblance: Shadow Clone

Weapons: Handgun, Machete, Combat Rifle, Knife

Licensing: Beacon Academy, Student Huntress

Party Relations
- Illia Amolita: She was convinced to abandon the White Fang in favor of Blake's thirst for revenge

End of Major Character status report

City of Mistral, April 18, Monday, 8:00 PM, Lower City

The lower city. Blake has been here before when she was younger. She traveled a lot back when she was in the White Fang. This particular part of the city is all too familiar to her, when she asked for directions on where to find Roxy Tudor, they all answer that she never goes above the lower-mid city. Hiding in the obfuscation of crime or poverty? Why else? She's a murderer, given the rumors, she supposedly killed a student huntress who wielded a scythe, and she only knows one person who fits that description.

She likely would have guessed by now that Weiss and Yang are somewhere back in Vale, recovering from their injuries. Sure, with aura it may not take very long, but she heard their conditions were quite critical.

There was a burnt down factory, and a bunch of dead bodies, no doubt Roxy's doing. To find where she's hiding, she'll have to go there to find the root source. Once she got in the factory, well... not much help aside from the dead bodies and well... and burnt structure and contents. Looks like she knows how to leave a trail cold. She turned around aand...

Wait...

She heard something.

Someone is nearby. And she knows it's not Ilia, she's in the mid-city, waiting for Blake to come back.

She went toward where she heard the sound, but when she got there... nothing is there but a bunch of grimm nevermore feathers. Small ones.

Blake followed it, and she can hear where the source of the sound is...

That girl-shaped figure. She began to follow it. The figure seems to run away from her, trying to escape, feathers can be seen from the trail. The trail leads to an old mine shaft, which appears to be abandoned. Blake had opened the door to the mineshaft and began to follow Blake the girl towards that location, leading to a confrontation.

Old Mine Shaft, April 18, Monday, 8:23 PM, Large Space

The mine shaft was likely built whilst the city was young, perhaps even before then. The area they were in was rather large or wide, perhaps it was a split off from various shafts or a resting area. But it was large enough to be an arena. Surprised this place wasn't that quite known by the criminal underground, then.

Blake had followed the figure there. Wearing mostly red-violet and black, face completely concealed by a scarf and sunglasses. Blake had unsheathed her combat knife she acquired on her way to Mistral.

"Are you Roxy Tudor?" Blake, as Roselyn asked.

The figure nodded, confirming her identity.

This is it, the moment of her revenge. Blake charged at her with knife at hand. She went for a killing blow at the chest, running toward her, only to be parried by a holographic blade, resembling one of Penny's blades.

Blake was shocked. The ability to conjure up blades out of a whim, that's a feat in of itself.

She pulled back and thought a way to counter that, but before she could do so... a giant Pizza cutter wielded by her was going to cut Blake in half, Blake grabbed her machete and parried it aside, and then used her strength to push Roxy back.

It seems like both Blake and Roxy intend to kill. Perhaps she plans on killing the rest of team RWBY? No, Blake made sure her true identity isn't obvious. Then it must be, that this girl intends to kill as innate. Got to be, for Ruby's sake, Roxy must die.

Blake Belladonna vs Roxy Tudor

The two of them began to charge at each other, clashing, and passing through in several consecutive blows, each of them were a stalemate. She's been quiet, like Neopolitan... however, she fights like... wait... It can't be...

She quickly notices there's a cloth band nearby her and she picked it up, attaching it to her knife and began to throw it toward Roxy. Roxy had then jumped on it, Blake pulled only for her to jump and throw a green blade at Blake, which she caught. The blade in question had lit up and then exploded, catching Blake off guard. Blake quickly recovered, just before Roxy brought back the Pizza cutter, Blake grabbed her combat rifle she picked up from the White Fang encounter on the way to Mistral and began firing at the cutter itself. Blake's shots manage to fry the cutter as it went over, which launched Roxy off of it and the cutter than short-circuited, basically rendering the weapon useless.

Roxy grunted, and then growled at the sight of her weapon breaking. And more holographic blades started to appear. With Roxy juggling them as they conjure up, and Blake shooting them down with her combat rifle, however, mid-shot... one of the blades managed to land in the middle of the gun, making the gun explode, pushing Blake down back toward the edge of the wall. She quickly recovered as she got her handgun and began firing suppressant rounds, then grabbed her machete with her other hand and began to make a strike downward, attacking Roxy, damaging her aura.

Roxy then grabbed the machete and broke it with her bare hand. Blake was caught off-guard as Blake was punched in the gut and thrown back across the wall, thrown deeper into the mine, out of desperation, Blake used her semblance whilst Roxy wasn't looking and use the momentum to attack Roxy from behind, knocking her across the wall from this part of the mine.

This part of the mine, now with the hole is much larger, and is much older, and from the looks of it, more unstable. However, they did not stay long as Roxy had jumped from where she was and pushed Blake back into the initial part of the mine, pinning her down toward a wall. Blake fired a couple shots from the handgun, but was quickly repelled by a scythe, looking identical to Crescent Rose. One thing to kill Ruby, but using her weapon AGAINST her girlfriend? That's too far.

In a fit of rage, Blake then punches Roxy, only for her to grab Roxy's arm and throw her across another wall. Blake grasped for air, but she notices the string her knife is attached to is near her grasp, so she begins pulling on it. Meanwhile, Roxy began to lunge at Blake, with dark red violet rose petals flying in the air. Out of desperation, Blake grabs the knife by the handle, and begins to Lunge at Roxy, at the clash, the two blades miss each other completely, and attack near their faces, which removes the facial obfuscations both were wielding. Blake's face and cat ears are now visible toward her opponent, who is...

Blake paused. Her heart skipped a beat. The shock on her face is rather great, there is a cocktail of emotions she's feeling. Anger, sadness, betrayal, relief, joy, love... to name a few of them. But this bundle of emotions... seeing her face, and after all that... she could just feel the rage right now... feeling betrayed by Ruby for ditching her and making her go through all that grief for nothing.

"RUBY, YOU BITCH!" Blake yelled at Ruby.

Blake Belladonna vs Ruby Rose

"Blake... I can explain!" Ruby yelped.

"Explain what? How you faked your death?" Blake yelled, lunging at Ruby with intent to stab, Ruby using her scythe to block the attacks.

"If you just let me-"

"Or how about how you managed to fabricate a rumor that your alternate persona killed you." Blake added with rage, with more strength and force going into the attacks. "I had spent months in Menagerie mourning your death, I thought you were dead, I thought someone killed you!"

"Blake..."

"DON'T 'BLAKE' ME!" Blake yelled, kicking Ruby down, using her knife to stab her in the forehead, only for Ruby to use a grimm arm to block the attack. "I WAS DERPRESSED, I WANTED REVENGE, AND YOU TOYED WITH MY EMOTIONS! WHY!? AM I NOTHING TO YOU!?"

Ruby remained silent, as she continued to block the blows from Blake, presumably waiting for Blake to calm down.

"I LOVED YOU! I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE FOR YOUR SAKE! ONLY TO FIND THAT THE WOMAN I'M SUPPOSED TO KILL WAS YOU!" Blake said, with her rage, muscles, and auras strengthening her stabs, she began to pierce the grimm.

"Ow, Blake. Stop it!" Ruby complained. "I don't want to hurt you..."

"Just a couple minutes ago, you seemed very determined to end my life."

"I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOU!"

"And if you did, what would you have done!?" Blake demanded.

Ruby used her semblance to flee away from Blake, across the area they are in.

"I'd run, run further than I did." Ruby answered solemnly. "If I knew that it was you, I didn't want you to see what I've become."

"You think? You faked your death, coined an alternate persona, and worst of all, you made it look like you were killed by that said persona. You stabbed a knife right in my heart, Ruby. I loved you." Blake said, with a face of anger, and tears coming out of her eyes.

"I've... broken my personal rule... I've broken your promise... I didn't want you to see me for what I've become, I wanted to be nothing but a happy memory to you... I wanted you to see me as who I was, not who I became. But it seems like that's not an option now." Ruby said, with a sad tone.

"Ruby... if you think you can talk me out of-."

"No. That's not why I'm saying this, nor any amount of apology or atonement can make up for what I've done. I've taken lives, Blake. I'm a monster. So, if you want to kill me, just do it."

Blake paused.

"If you want to kill me, just do it, stab me already. if not, I'll give you back the locket and I'll be out of your life forever. You'll never see me again." Ruby said, solemnly, it would appear as if she's trying to cry.

She could be attempting crocodile tears... to an ineffective stance, since she can't actually cry. But, if she is sincere... Ruby would be gone from her life forever... whether by Blake's hand, or not. She'll be done with this vampire business and continue down a normal life, either way.

Blake had approached Ruby. Still with knife in her hand. The two of them were only a couple feet of distance between them. Blake started to cry...

"Ruby..." Blake said with hesitation

"I'll always love you, Blake. Even if you hate me." Ruby said, solemnly

"So why run? Why run away? Why be... Roxy Tudor?"

"You know why."

Ruby told Blake why she ran away, about what caused her to do so... and repeated the two options Ruby gave her. Kill her now or spare her and they'll never see eachother again. The explanation is that Ruby cares about Blake too much for her to be involved in the whole vampire ideal. That the whole thing is too big for her, that she doesn't want Blake to be in any danger, and more importantly, live a happy life.

Blake had made an option. But Ruby doesn't know what that decision was.

"So... what will it be?" Ruby asked.

"Before I decide, I'd like one last kiss from you." Blake requested.

Ruby had closed her eyes and began going for a kiss, and that's when Blake stabbed her right in the heart. Ruby's eyes opened wide with shock and looked down. She smiled at Blake as her chest was cut open with the metal knife. She looked Blake in the eyes.

Blake had let go of the knife, still in Ruby's chest, cutting through her heart.

"Thank you..." Ruby said, before collapsing on the ground, laying on her back. Knife, clearly visible.

Blake sighed, she had dropped the vampirica encyclopedia on the ground next to Ruby's body, discarding it. The pages were Blank. But she didn't need it anymore, she's no longer involved in the whole vampire thing anymore.

Blake had left the mine, with aura in critical condition from the fighting... and a lot of anger, regret... Blake was rather sad of what she had to do... even after all of this... she still loved Ruby deeply, Ruby just didn't see it, she was just so accepting of that fact that their love life is so over it's... almost heartbreaking... However, that locket was a gift, a show of affection. She wouldn't want Ruby to spend eternity having forgotten how much Blake cared for her. And to an extent, she thinks Ruby knew that too.

She went all this way, did all of this, abandoned everyone... just because she had broken the one rule she refuses to break, if not counting Feral Ruby. She wanted people to remember Ruby as who she was, Ruby Rose the human... not Ruby Rose the vampire, or Ruby Rose the monster as she calls herself. Hence, she started over.

Blake would rest easily knowing that she had reunited Ruby with her mother that night, free from the curse of vampirism... even if her heart ached from her own actions.

City of Mistral, April 18, Monday, 9:55 PM, Lower-Mid City

Blake had gone up to meet with Ilia. She was actually waiting outside. Ilia had approached Blake.

"Are you alright?" Ilia asked.

"Ya..." Blake stated.

"So... you killed her..."

"Ya..."

"Well, your dead girlfriend can rest easily now... so... how about you go rest up... go to sleep."

"Ya, sleep. That's exactly what's needed right now."

The two of them were to head inside near one of the local hotels... until an unfriendly face showed up out of nowhere. She was wearing mostly red, with a grimm mask. So... her face couldn't really be seen.

"So... did I hear you killed Roxy Tudor?" the woman asked.

"Ya... why? What's it matter?" Blake asked.

"She's my apprentice."

'Ruby, you Bitch.' Blake thought to herself.

"Just tell me where the body is and I'll be on my way, if not. I'll force the information out of you, and then kill you for wasting my time." the woman threatened.

"In the old mine, entered from the lower city."

"The one facing north, or south?"

"It was mostly empty when I arrived..."

"Ah, so the north one. I better find the body there." the woman said, leaving.

Blake never said anything about meeting someone else... who is she? And apprentice? Well, one thing... that woman did look a lot older than her. But Blake can't feel anything but jealousy around her.

She shouldn't think about this... and more importantly, she should stay miles away from Yang. Thank goodness she's not in Mistral. Because she'd end up trying to do the same thing if she was in perfect health... and things may not have gone so well for either one.

Though, before she had gone in, she saw a gentleman wielding a cane approaching her. He was quite far, so she couldn't get a grasp on how she looked, her priority was to simply get inside before anything else happens. She did not want to know who that was... she's had enough to deal with for one night... having to kill Ruby, to put that part of her life to a close... it was just... all she could handle for that night, whatever that woman wanted with the remains of a vampire is beyond Blake.

Character Change: Blake Belladonna - Jaune Arc

Qrow's Villa, April 19, Tuesday, 9:55 AM, Dining Room

The dining room is actually well decorated with various artworks. Mr. Branwen said that the dining room came with the villa, along with the artwork. the table is rather long, able to seat 10 people. hence, it has 10 chairs. Ren pretty much likes the design. He is sitting with him and Nora, all of which eating a traditional Mistrillian breakfast, which Ren cooked up. Jaune is from Atlas, so he has had some Mistrallian food once in a while when visiting Argus.

However, one thing he doesn't understand... is that every morning since Jaune found Yang and Sun at the hotel... Yang always throws up after she wakes up. Along with feeling headaches. Yang had sat down, despite it, and began to eat breakfast.

"Yang, are you okay?" Nora asked.

"No worry, Nora. I'm fine. It's just some morning sickness, it'll pass by." Yang stated.

"Are you sure?" Jaune asked.

"Why? You're not my dad."

"Being that you're one of my teammates, I think you should rest up, I think you're sick."

"Jaune I'm fine... it's just... gah..." Yang said, grabbing her head... "Sorry, headache..."

"Ya, you need to rest. You're sick. There's no talking about it. We'll discuss more once I feel like you're better."

"Alright, just let me eat up, I'm starving." Yang said, shoveling her food and she ate it at a quick pace. She had then went back to bed.

"I thought she was fine..." Nora said.

"Well, I'm worried she may have caught something. How is Sun? Is he throwing up or anything?" Jaune asked.

"No... Sun's fine, last I checked. Healthy as a harpoon, as he said." Ren stated. "He hasn't thrown up or gotten any headaches, either."

"Huh, weird." Jaune stated.

And soon after, Mr. Branwen walks in...

"Has anyone seen Yang?" Mr. Branwen asks.

"Ya, she went back upstairs, resting." Jaune stated.

"Why?" Qrow asked.

"I think she might be sick."

"Ya, I think she's caught something else. Seen it happen before twice, unaware the first time." Mr. Branwen said, heading upstairs.

"What could that be about?" Nora asked.

"Eh, beats me." Jaune said.

Character Change: Jaune Arc - Weiss Schnee

Island of Patch, April 19, Tuesday, 9:55 AM, Village of Patch

Weiss had went shopping for some food for Taiyang. She's trying to help him get over the loss of his daughter. Though, he kind of wish her father was like him... well, not in his current state. Weiss heard that she was essentially disinherited for just being in a coma. And was essentially abandoned here. Some father he is. Which means by process of elimination, Whitley is the heir to the company. Well, there's no use trying to get the company back. Weiss is essentially the guardian of Vale... or whatever is left of it.

He grabbed some fruit, some water, some miscellaneous produce, and some other things. Basically, trying to make sure he doesn't commit suicide through alcohol poisoning. The best way is to get him to drink something else as a habit and reduce the amount of time he drinks that until it's a healthy pace.

Though, in about a month, starting at May. Glynda wants her to drive out the rest of the grimm occupying Vale, so the city can be resettled and rebuilt. The only people there would be the looters, which also need to be driven out and be forced to return what they stole. Hopefully, the looters she doesn't need to inflict violence on. For now, she needs to further harness her maiden training. She also has a lot of questions... specifically regarding to dreams... she's had lucid dreams, one where she was an orphan who killed her stepsisters and stepmother, and each consecutive dream follows on a day for that orphan.

The thing is these dreams get so muffled out when mentioning the orphan's name. No idea why she's seeing those dreams. Perhaps Glynda can provide more insight on those dreams and how they work... but for now... she'll need to

"GAH!" Weiss screamed.

It's one of these attacks again...

'I don't want to run... I want to get rid of them. They're nothing but a nuisance... families.'

'If you kill them, running away is all you'll do.'

She's been getting those voices... though, the first one she got didn't make much sense... but the others... they seem to be revolving around the same person... perhaps it was the previous fall maiden?

If so, she must have had a rough childhood. Wondered how she died, though...

Author's Footnote: Worry not my choombas (Damnit, I've been playing too much Cyberpunk 2077), Ruby's not dead. In case you didn't notice, her body didn't turn into a skeleton. So... she's still... not dead. I'd say alive, but she's still a vampire. It likely turned out like what you expected, or perhaps worse... or better... or disappointing... what did you think would happen? I actually thought a lot on this reunion. So, I hoped you like it, and see you next chapter.