Chapter 5: Duel
All sorts of eyes were on Ruby. Crescent Rose was in her hands, her breathing was nice and steady, and she was poised to move at a moment's notice.
"Are you ready?" Professor Goodwitch asked, standing in the middle of the arena. Between them.
A single nod was Weiss' answer. Weiss held her rapier in a firm left-handed grip, feet pressed next to each other, showing no mocking smiles, no cold glares, nothing but single-minded concentration.
She didn't waver from her stance for a single second.
"I'm ready," Ruby said.
All of the thoughts that bothered her were in a distant corner of her mind, locked tight by her focus on the task at hand.
"Begin!"
Ruby moved within cutting distance. Crescent Rose met Weiss' rapier in a clash of sparks, quickly parried to the side. Ruby whirled Crescent Rose around as Weiss stepped forward, blocking the riposte and a follow-up jab that extended Weiss' rapier arm too far forward.
Before Ruby could punish her, Weiss sprung into the air, a single Dust cartridge clicking into place. Once Weiss landed, bright flames spread from her rapier in a wide, sweeping arc. Heat licked at her left flank as Ruby swerved to the right, barely avoiding the burn. It wouldn't stop her.
This time, the tip of her scythe met a blue snowflake glyph. It creaked for just a second before Weiss pushed her skyward. Ruby rolled in the air, ready to run when she landed, but a row of white glyphs appeared in the space separating them. Weiss stepped on one and lanced forward frighteningly fast, accelerating further with every glyph she touched.
Ruby batted away Weiss' strike, but the force of the blow pushed her back, and Weiss didn't let up, thrusting and slashing in a frenzied flurry. There was a rhythm in Weiss' precise attacks that Ruby quickly tuned into, because for all her precision, she was too rigid. She was about to stab, but before she could reverse it, Weiss hopped into a short lunge, switching stances.
That was Yang's move.
Weiss pounced, slicing Ruby's sternum with the tip of the rapier. Immediately after, Weiss lashed out, a predator's hunger twisting her imperious expression, forcing Ruby to retreat from her onslaught.
While Weiss drew first blood, this duel was only getting started.
A cartridge clicked into place. Seconds later, ice surged forth, forging a rising wall that would split the arena in two. Didn't matter: Ruby would circle behind her. Another wave of ice emerged from Ruby's left, preventing her from using the arena's wide spaces to her advantage. She was caged, just like that Boarbatusk.
That meant she'd have to adapt. Ruby flew forward, rose petals fluttering behind her, but it was taking longer for her to reach Weiss. In fact, her movements were growing more sluggish by the second. Black glyphs were set on her path, and Ruby careened to a stop just as Weiss jumped high, bouncing off a set of blue glyphs.
She brought up Crescent Rose, but she was a second too slow, still bound by Weiss' glyphs.
Sparks showered around Ruby as the side of her scythe-blade met Weiss' rapier. However, Weiss still clipped her shoulder, and hit the ice feet first. It cracked from the force of her landing and she stumbled, slipping down to the bare floor of the arena.
Ruby switched to her sniper rifle, aimed at Weiss' head. A single shot would crush her Aura. Another fired at centre mass would deplete the rest. A third would pierce her torso, drawing rivers of blood as Weiss gasped, shock contorting her smug face, consumed by death's overwhelming grip.
Her lifeless body would collapse in a heap of tangled limbs, and she wouldn't get up to fight again, no more poisonous barbs would be uttered from her haughty mouth –
"You got moxie, Red –"
She gasped, staggering back, away from Torchwick – no, not him, Weiss. Only Weiss, who had climbed back to her feet, clutching her rapier a bit tighter. Ruby saw a flicker of concern passing through her blue eyes. It was immediately snuffed out.
"Ms. Rose?" Professor Goodwitch asked. Hearing her voice confirmed that Ruby had never left the arena.
"I'm fine, Professor," Ruby said. "I can still fight."
The blonde woman examined her with careful, gentle eyes, then nodded. "We'll continue in thirty seconds."
She'd seen Ruby's fight with Torchwick, brought her to Ozpin. Professor Goodwitch hadn't been impressed by how everything went down, but she hadn't been unsympathetic, either. According to her, the potential Ruby had could be honed so that she wasn't forced to kill an enemy when it wasn't necessary, and cope with her choice if she did.
If she was going to point her rifle at another person, she had to make sure she was willing to fire. Otherwise, Weiss – or any other enemy she faced in the future – wouldn't hesitate to capitalize if she lost focus for even a second.
This wasn't a fight she could lose, and running away from Weiss' challenge wouldn't solve anything. Her worries would pile up and fester until they exploded in her face, and if that led to someone else getting hurt, she'd never forgive herself.
That was why she accepted Weiss' proposal, so that she would have no choice but to confront the big bad wolf lurking in her path to greatness, and seize control of her fear.
She was going to win, and when she did, she would stand tall as Team RWBY's stalwart pillar, ready to lead them into the future.
"What's wrong with you?" Yang said.
Weiss curled her lip. "Nothing."
Once class ended, Yang had all but dragged Weiss to a secluded corner of one of Beacon's many hallways. From the searing scowl on her face, Weiss was certain she would have hauled her away by force if she hadn't complied. Rather than indulge in Yang's unnecessary theatrics, she walked with her partner of her own free will.
"Then why the hell did you set Ruby up like that? What made you think you could trick Ruby into fighting a Grimm?!"
"She could handle it."
"So? You don't do that to anyone, especially your own teammate!"
Weiss scoffed. Ruby could have refused to fight, but she rose to meet the challenge.
"Whatever. I'm not going to waste my breath stating the obvious."
She turned, about to leave, but Yang slammed her hand against the wall, next to Weiss' head.
"We're not finished, Weiss!"
Yang's eyes were red, like blood. Weiss gulped, throat bulging. She hoped Yang didn't notice her moment of weakness.
"Did Ruby do something to you?"
Weiss bristled. Every word that spilled out of Yang's mouth was laced with the threat of violence. What a surprise; Yang was definitely the type to use anger to solve all of her problems.
It didn't make her any less frightening.
"No. I'm not interested in seeing her squander the opportunity she was given."
Yang smirked. "Oh, I get it. You're just jealous Ruby got something you didn't."
Weiss sneered, finding confidence in the midst of consternation. "Please. I have no reason to be jealous, and even if I did, that wouldn't be why I've had issues with Ruby."
"Then talk to her about it. If you can't, keep it to yourself. Either way, I'm not going to let you hurt my sister!"
A scowl ripped Weiss' carefully crafted visage apart. "That's exactly the problem! Ruby hides behind you, expecting you to protect her from everything, and you're too blind to see it! How can Ruby learn to lead anyone if her big sister's there to coddle her and shield her from reality?"
Yang flinched, hid it with a sharp click of her tongue. "Putting Ruby on the spot won't help her, it'll just make things worse. We'll pick her up when she's down and give her the time she needs to stand on her own two feet. That's how she'll become a real leader."
"Well, I'm not willing to watch Ruby stumble around like a flailing infant. Ruby can fight, she can certainly defend herself, but I don't trust her to lead us."
Yang frowned. "It hasn't even been a single day since we became a team. Can't you give Ruby a chance?"
"I can give her all the chances in the world, but if she won't make the most of those chances, then what's the point?"
"The point is that you won't make Ruby feel like she failed just because she made a mistake. How can she build up her confidence when you're stealing it from her?"
Weiss frowned. What Yang had just said struck too close to home for Weiss to stomach. Perhaps she had been hasty.
"I see."
Yang exhaled, exuding relief. She pushed off the wall, dusting off her hand on her shorts. Her eyes weren't red any longer. Weiss let out a tiny sigh.
"Just so you know, even if Ruby wasn't my sister, I'd still help her if she asked me. I wouldn't bully her."
After that meeting, Weiss tried to build Ruby up without crushing her resolve. Unfortunately, Ruby's improvements were incremental at best, aggravating Weiss to no end.
Hence, their current situation; a fight to determine who would lead Team RWBY. Weiss wasn't certain that Ozpin would let her replace Ruby as leader, but that was besides the point.
Momentary panic aside, Ruby had been remarkably focused and composed throughout their duel, a far cry from her meek, anxious disposition in classes. She was incredibly quick on her feet, capable of anticipating her attacks and adapting on a whim while placing pressure on her with her scythe's long reach and its potential to pierce her defenses from any angle.
This Ruby was someone Weiss wouldn't mind working with, but she still wasn't sure if this shift in behaviour only occurred whenever Ruby fought or a sign of her potential if she ever pulled herself together. That being said, Weiss was winning so far, and she wasn't willing to lose.
So far, Ruby hadn't been able to hurt her, but Weiss was pleased that Goodwitch had granted them time to rest. Thirty seconds were a lifeline Weiss was more than happy to cling onto, as she had expended a lot of her stamina. She wasn't dead on her feet yet, but Ruby was showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
Vexing.
This fight was not over, not by a long shot. Weiss still had a reserve of Dust to use, her semblance was working as intended, and she had a solid grip on Ruby's fighting style. She could still win this.
After their break elapsed, Goodwitch had them stand within the twin walls of ice Weiss forged with Dust.
"On my mark, we'll continue," the professor said.
Weiss corrected her stance. Her shoulders were level, feet facing forward, Myrtenaster held tightly in her left hand. She refused to let her posture decay because of her fatigue.
Once she was set, Weiss spared a look at Ruby. There was no hint of fear, confusion or awkward whimpering in her silver eyes or her round face, just the focus of a fighter utterly confident in their abilities.
Perhaps she really did kill Roman Torchwick, she thought.
This might not have been her greatest idea. This also wasn't the time to worry about compelling hearsay.
Regardless of how Ruby entered Beacon, any worries Weiss harboured were worthless. The gap between their skills was not insurmountable. Whoever won would lead Team RWBY. That fact was enough to settle her doubt.
"Begin!"
Ruby pulled up her sniper rifle and took a second to aim down the sights. Weiss summoned a glyph, infusing it with ice Dust to form a barrier that would shield her from harm. Each bullet Ruby fired packed a mighty punch, aimed at her rapier's hilt, her hands, even her shoulders. None of her shots missed their target.
With Myrtenaster, Weiss could guide her barrier to where she needed it to be. Unfortunately, her barrier was already beginning to crack, so she discarded it and formed a pillar of ice with the remaining Dust in the cartridge, taller and wider than herself.
Taking a moment to inhale a deep breath, Weiss switched to her lightning Dust. Hampering Ruby's impressive speed was the only way she'd prevent Ruby from running literal circles around her. First, she would improve her own speed. Weiss formed a white glyph around her body and became suffused with light. The second her semblance took effect, she sprinted around the pillar.
It exploded, bearing the brunt of two high-calibre bullets, but Weiss was already away from the splash zone, Myrtenaster pointed straight ahead as she closed in on Ruby. Rather than stand and block as she'd done before, Ruby charged forward, transforming her weapon into its scythe form.
When their weapons met, sparks burst into life from the ensuing clash of steel. Ruby spun her scythe around in a single revolution that generated greater force than a mere swing it could muster. It didn't cost Ruby any more time to execute, either. However, Weiss was able to parry it, and quite effectively at that.
In the small interval she created with her parry, Weiss conjured a black glyph beneath Ruby's feet. She immediately used her heightened speed to attack any spot Ruby left exposed, but those openings were few and far between. Ruby's movements were slower, yet her senses were still as sharp as ever, bridging the gap that Weiss created with her semblance.
As a result, Weiss was still unable to keep Ruby from blocking her attacks. This had to change, and fast. Weiss sliced forward; in the same motion, she flicked her wrist, thrusting Myrtenaster at Ruby's flank. The impromptu manoeuvre caught Ruby off-guard, allowing Weiss to score a glancing blow.
It was exactly what she wanted to see. Weiss' heartbeat began to thrum in her ears as she switched cartridges, fully intent on using fire Dust to create a horde of flames that would trap Ruby completely. Once the cartridge clicked in place, Weiss hopped back.
So did Ruby.
Her scythe became a sniper rifle once again, and as Weiss landed, Ruby's bullet clipped her shoulder. The impact of the shot rippled across her body, but her Aura held strong, allowing her to take the blow without crumpling to the arena floor.
Weiss grit her teeth. Ruby had finally landed an attack. As she was still in the air, Weiss would respond in kind.
Fire screamed in the shape of Myrtenaster's upward swing, searing towards Ruby's prone form. The recoil from her shot had carried her further away, but she was not out of reach. However, in her haste to attack Ruby, Weiss hadn't taken her surroundings into account, and with dawning horror, she watched her salvo of flames reach the wall of ice she had erected.
As for Ruby, she scaled the melting wall with her semblance, launching herself high into the air. At the apex of her jump, Ruby redirected her momentum with another deafening shot, diving to the floor. Weiss' speed-enhancing glyph hadn't worn out yet, and she wasn't remotely interested in helping Ruby form a crater from her landing, so she jumped away.
However, Ruby had employed her semblance once more, and she wasn't suffering from the effects of the time-slowing glyph. In what felt like no time at all, she was right above her. Ruby spun once, twice, then slammed Weiss into the floor with her blood-red scythe.
Weiss heard the impact before she felt it, yet even though her Aura dampened most of the damage, it still hurt, it hurt really, really badly. It was a horrible pain that reminded her that she would never be perfect, she'd never be good enough.
She heaved herself onto shaky feet, taking a pair of seconds to correct her footing. Ruby, on the other hand, was still standing, not one black hair out of place, seemingly content to let her regain her bearings.
The fact that Ruby had brought Weiss to her knees with only two well-timed attacks was so very, very frustrating. She had skill, but had the gap between them always been this wide? Had she been deluded by desires of grandeur when she assumed she could defeat Ruby just because Ruby was younger than her and Weiss possessed a wealth of skill honed through excellent training?
There was no point in allowing doubt to defeat her. Her Aura had not been depleted, so the outcome of this fight would be decided by her and her alone. No matter what happened, Weiss would not allow Ruby Rose to hold her back when the chance to forge her family's legacy on her terms was on the line.
Once more, Weiss surged forth, but Ruby went low, catching Weiss' heel and tripping her. Weiss scowled. How dare she humiliate her like that? She rolled away from Ruby's follow-up strike, gathering her feet beneath her and springing to a standing position. Rather than transform her scythe, Ruby set it on the floor and fired a single round that exploded the second it reached Weiss.
An ice barrier was the only shield protecting Weiss from utter defeat, but it had splintered from the pressure the explosion wrought. Ruby fired another round, destroying Weiss' barrier entirely and knocking Myrtenaster from her hands.
No!
Weiss wanted to scream and vent her frustrations to everyone who had ears.
A moment later, the tip of Ruby's scythe was pointed against her chest.
"Surrender, Weiss," Ruby said. There was no hint of doubt in Ruby's silver eyes. If Weiss refused, Ruby would strike her down. If she did that, her Aura would certainly be depleted. She thought about trying something reckless to buy some time, but was it worth the risk?
Weiss thrust her hands into her pockets, searching for a spare Dust cartridge, but Ruby slammed the blunt end of her scythe into her stomach before she could grab it. The wind was knocked out of her lungs, and she hacked and coughed, desperate for precious air.
If that move hadn't eliminated her Aura, the next one would, so begrudgingly, Weiss raised her hands.
"I... concede."
"The winner is Ruby Rose!" Goodwitch said, immediately separating Ruby from Weiss.
Weiss hadn't merely lost, she surrendered. It was frustrating and annoying and so many other words that slipped her mind in the wake of her exhaustion. However, Ruby had stood her ground, faced her openly instead of cowering away in fear. That was worth commending. That was worth acknowledging, so Weiss sniffed and stared right her opponent, holding her gaze until Ruby saw her.
They made eye contact, and Weiss gave her leader a firm nod. Ruby blinked, before smiling widely and freely. It stirred something warm in Weiss' heart. Certainly, it was better than her guarded expressions or her fearful glances.
Hopefully, Ruby would build on this so that her victory wouldn't amount to nothing. That wasn't up to her, though.
Yang rushed into the arena to congratulate her sister. Blake wasn't far behind, though her brow was furrowed from hard thought. Neither of them were coming to comfort her. Loathe as she was to admit it, Ruby deserved their affectionate praise.
So Weiss decided to retrieve her beloved rapier and walk away. She'd nurse her wounded pride alone.