Despairs Remnants

by TwinGamers011701

A hunter, content in killing the beasts of the night. A knight, burning forever to protect the people who wished to kill his kind. Both wish nothing more, than to help their worlds... But when something happens and they both appear in a new world. A World destined to fall like theirs. Well what other choice do they have but to help. Bloodborne/Dark Souls/RWBY. My own OC's.

17. The Eye of Death

All right, Let's get to the fights! Welcome to Despair Remnants!

Crown of Reaper: The Slasher flick was the angle I was going. There is nothing else that I can imagine other than Ven doing this for the entire time. Sadly, I think part of your Review was cut off, so I can't properly respond to it. I hope you remember what you meant, because I'd love to read it.

Also, I love Cliffhangers. I am slightly evil in that way. :)

Tsun: While I understand that it was very long, even my brother thinks it's way too long. Blake is someone that I absolutely needed to get right. As much as I like RWBY, Blake is kind of a bland and forgettable character. As sad as it may sound, her only unique traits are her fighting style, her Semblance, and of course her being a Faunus. Other than that, there really is nothing interesting to truly note.

This was something that I had to tweak. I had to make Blake a character, and that needed her perspective in detail and length.

But, this chapter is nothing but plot and battles. I hope you enjoy it!

Ascadas: While Mors is the physically stronger of the two, Venatores is definitely the brains. Everything he does is a manner of breaking down the enemy before fighting them. Something that is definitely reminiscent of the games they are from.

The Lord of Pies: I am glad that I did something to acknowledge it! It was a difficult write, especially with the world as it is, but it was worth it.

Evincio: Indeed my friend, indeed. This hunt can never truly end…

Fluffy Fox that goes Kyu: Why thank you, I hope I can sweep you up in another whirlwind.

A Simple Pilgrim: Venatores is a Hunter of Hunters. As much as he hopes for something better, hope can't get in the way of his mission. Such a thing will only break him, if he continues to keep it.

I hope to surprise you, but Ozpin sees Ven for what he is. A useful tool. So long as he sees potential, he will never part with it.

Sorry about the length of time, most of it had to do with… Well, the world at large. Most of it is work and college, and helping my family so writing came dead last on my list…

Khoasekx: I can't wait to get to that! It is going to be so much fun, by the time they finish it they will be the best of bros.

Student: Yes! As much as I like RWBY, most of the things that happened in VOL 7 felt… Shallow and Forced. The only thing I really liked was Ironwood and Weiss putting her Dad in jail.

But who knows, perhaps some might even impress Ven. After all, the world at large has become strange and alien. The only thing he really understands is a fight between two hunters, and the hunt itself.

Guest: I hope I made some pretty good fights then. Ones that will force you to run across your room in hype.

DB4EVER: Oh he will most definitely relate to both of them. Relate in a way that can only be understood between immortals.

Author not Signed in: Thank you… it means a lot to me. Don't worry, nothing can bring me down! I hope you enjoy my fights.

All properties go to the respected owners.

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Chapter 17

The Eye of Death

Weiss

Every battle I've had was simple… They were usually Armos Gigas, requested specifically by my Father to ensure I was actually ready for this. Even Grimm, thanks to my sister, was a simple thing. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't anything special.

This was nothing like those battles. Not because it was going to be anything but simple, not because this was a working, thinking human being.

But because this was the first time I ever actually felt afraid

Venatores Luna had that effect on people.

I lifted my sword, blocking the quick swing of his blade. Just as I did so, I quickly braced the blade with my other hand and some of my aura. The strike was somehow heavy despite the rather thin blade.

Then it was followed by another, and another. Each one followed by a quick step retreat, as I kept trying to block them. His style filled with almost zero holes, yet so strong and fast that it forced me to form some.

Something that I knew wouldn't happen.

After all, he wasn't after me.

He was after the prey behind me.

The girl known as Blake Belladonna. An old White Fang member, a person who wished to destroy the Human Race for it's past crimes. People who hated the Schnees for as long as it used slaves to mine.

Something that she had always understood.

I had always imagined what would happen if I met a White Fang member. The simplest thing I had ever thought about was quickly defeating them, putting them into a jail cell. The cruelest thing to let them feel the fear that they had given to me in my young life.

I never imagined that her teammate would be one. Someone who could do that, while also lying to her and the others about her.

But… as strange as it was, she was also my friend. One of the only friends in my life, beside my other teammates, Winter and Klein.

Friends who deserve a chance.

A friend that I was willingly giving to him, as he was advancing.

In a pure physical battle I stood no chance… I understood that as each strike connected with my blade. To heavy to truly block, and to fast to dodge.

Thankfully…

I stabbed forward, ignoring the coming blade. The hammer on the handle pulled back as I turned it to the white cylinder. A large white Glyph appearing at its center, causing a harsh wind to blow into the forest.

Even Ven flinched, being forced back as he had done to me. A simple pride entering my face as I did so.

There's always Dust.

It was no secret that I was not physically gifted as my other Teammates. Yang was strong, Ruby was fast and even Blake could surprise others with her dexterity. All I had was this miraculous material of the earth that sometimes cost a fortune.

But, as Heiress to a global corporation…

I pointed the Rapier again, a black Glyph large enough only to keep Venatores down. The Gravity in that very area, growing. Venatores footing that was off from the wind, forced him onto the ground in a kneel.

Just as it did, I waved my hand around in a small circle. The ground below me covered in another White Glyph. As I prepped my rapier at my side.

It was a matter of only asking.

I felt the wind rush by me, as I rushed towards the downed Venatores. Ready to stab forward and deal as much damage as I could.

Just as he did, his arm reached to his mouth shaking in effort as he did. I saw the small pieces of something that shone in the moonlight.

Then he swallowed it, and took a large breath of air.

Something that made me create another Glyph, forcing me to go backwards. Fear filling every part of my body as I retreated right next to Blake.

She looked at what Venatores was about to do with a similar familiar horror.

But unlike what I heard… All it did was break her.

I quickly formed another Glyph, the fear of what might come next rushing my hand. The Glyph was a large, brown color.

The color of the very earth.

As if responding to such a Glyph, the earth around me began to mold. It became like a liquid, that swarmed itself around Blake and I in a large dome. Only when she was completely and utterly blind, did she feel it safe for the dirt to solidify.

All of this was done, just as he began to roar.

It was horrifying, like a pure mixture of every Grimm roar in existence. Each one trying to win against the other to try and scare or deafen us.

Even the earth shield I created barely kept the scream out. My other sense heightened because of the darkness around me. So much so that I could feel it though the earth and air. Each of those terrifying voices vibrating every part of the world, as if it was trying to destroy me from the inside.

A part of me grew worried that it wasn't enough. Whether the fact that Blake would still be in pain, or that the earth dome would rupture from the vibrations from the scream alone. Like a piece of glass would at the right kind of vibration. Each second that it continued causing my fear to grow and grow.

But I had to focus… So long as I concentrated on the Glyph while he did this, we were safe.

A hand touched me in the dark, a slight shiver as it touched my skin. I kept my focus on the hidden Glyph, unable to truly try and comfort her.

"Stay behind me." I spoke, my voice low against the horrible cacophony of screams. That tiny sentence was the only thing I could manage to say.

Then all those screams stopped. It was supposed to be a relief, like an end to any form of horror that might come.

Until the side of the small earthen igloo was pierced by an invisible blade, slicing through it as if it was made of butter. A small pitiful scream forced out of my lungs, echoing in the sphere.

But I moved the Glyph to turn towards where the strike came from. The earth became liquid once again, as they turned into small razor sharp rocks.

I saw him from a distance in front of me, a good twenty feet away. The sword already had a glow, as he was prepping to use more of his Wind Dust on hand.

Then I added another black Glyph to the brown one, alongside a white one in front of both.

Before he could do anything else, the small rocks started firing off, as if they were large bullets. Like a hail of earth that was falling horizontally towards Venatores.

But all he did was swing his blade…

As every rock exploded before they even got close to him. Each one exploding as if they were hit by a small wall of steel.

Even she was hit, a sharp jolt of electricity spreading from her chest. Her Aura up to protect her from any major damage, in case the blade reached her. Dust now settling across her eyes, blinding her from wherever Venatores might've been.

A white Glyph appeared on her Mrytenanster, a sharp wind escaping from it as she began to wildly slash at the dust in the air. Hoping that she could find where Venatores would be.

Then there was the sound of a gunshot…

Before I knew it, I was on my knee. A small rush of wind moving past me, bringing dust with it.

But I caught a glimpse of the person who rushed past me. The fear shot up within me, as I stared at the almost fully black eye, only the smallest tints of purple shining through.

An eye that would scare the bones off of Grimm, if they even felt fear.

But it was enough to drain the blood from my face. As he raced to catch the only person that mattered to him at the moment.

Without even a thought of my own dignity, I fell backwards onto my back. My head impacted softly onto the dirt, as I tried to find him and Blake.

He was practically over Blake when I saw them, her sword battered to the side with a simple flick of the weapon. The sword in his hands already primed, glowing like a small beacon at his side. Ready to kill her faunus teammate.

Like he was going to get the chance

Symphony of Boreal Wind: Genshin Impact

My hand was already twisting into a circle to craft three more Glyphs. One of them a pure white, while the other two were the opposite black. The white one appeared on the floor where her partner was standing. Amplifying the dodge that Blake would likely do.

My teammate dodge diagonally, following along the blade. The Glyph boosting her to the point where she made it to the other side of the alcove. I willed a black one to appear at my feet, the gravity suddenly becoming horizontal around me before turning upward.

I gave a little spin around, Venatores already beginning to follow her with a quick pace.

I merely willed the third one to appear on his back. Forcefully pulling him backwards as if he were a puppet under my control. A click from my Mrytenanster lighting it on fire, allowing me to see more clearly in the dark forest. Maybe to do even more damage to the downed Venatores.

I expected for him to fall on his back, the perfect chance to strike him with a blade caught on fire, hoping for big damage. But he rolled backwards perfectly, already ready to face me. The tip of his gun already pointed at me. Ready to stop me the moment I thrusted my rapier.

Just as the smallest idea popped into my head.

I drew the circle as I stabbed forward. The hammer of Venatores' ancient pistol slowly made its way downward. Striking any of the dust that would launch it forward, the small sound of an explosion...

Right as the sound of multiple black Glyphs extended on the barrel of his gun.

The small sound of metal striking metal rang out within his gun.

I could see Ven's eye widen, as he quickly backed up, raising his arm to brace the strike. My blade scratching across the metal armor on his arm, the metal turning a light red for the smallest second.

But, it hit its mark. The red hot rapier grazing past his side, lightly toasting the leather protecting it.

I could hear a small grunt come from him, a smile forming at my face. As cruel as it may sound, it was nice to see Venatores' hurt.

In the continuing battle, it helped remind me that he was still a person. A person who could feel pain and still be surprised.

It eased the fear for me. Allowing me for the quickest second to take a breath.

Venatores grasped his side, before quickly pulling his hand away, the air rushing through his teeth. Then, he grabbed his gun and looked down into the barrel of it, a small tisk forcing its way out of his mouth.

I didn't bother to even comment, quickly pulling out a new cylinder filled with dust. Popping open my blade like a revolver. I connected the two cylinders, the one inside my Mrytenanster beginning to fill with new dust.

I returned the cylinder to my pouch, closing my rapier with a loud click. Looking at Venatores, already beginning to make my strike.

But I was stopped… stopped by him continuing to examine his gun. As if it was more important than me or the wound at that moment.

I was even more shocked as I looked at his pistol. The pistol that somehow remained pristine and beautiful without even the smallest of dents. It didn't even look broken in any way, it looked perfectly normal.

But the way he put it on his side, the gun now hanging off a small strap on his hip, it was obviously out of commision. His blade now at the ready once again.

All he did was stare at me. It was filled with that look he always had, a deep and dark purple that was more reminiscent of the night than an eye color.

But, for the smallest second, there was something akin to a star in his eye. Something that brightened his eye to be an actual color.

A color akin to royal purple

It reminded me of Yang a little… It wasn't as bright or as hopeful, but it brought with it the memory of her. It was closer to a royal purple than anything else.

It made him look regal… it made him look powerful.

It was something that I considered more terrifying than any Grimm… How a killer, someone who was supposed to be the scum of the earth, held an eye that beautiful.

But, just as it appeared, it vanished.

Along with Venatores'.

I blinked hard, holding Mrytenanster up like a torch. The darkness and shadows of the woods still hide him from her torch-like blade.

The forest grew more terrifying the more I looked into it. The trees were no longer trees, but monstrous forces that were helping out my enemy. The shadows no longer shadows, but deep dark places that Venatores found a home in.

It was like I was a child again, scared of the darkness around me despite the bright lights of Atlas outside my window.

I saw something out of the corner of my eye, something moving toward me as quickly as a bullet.

I slashed at it, the growing fear of what would come from the dark forcing my hand.

But it wasn't Venatores Luna… it was a small jar. One that shattered on impact with my sword, holding almost no resistance as it broke into bits.

A dark liquid splattering over my entire body.

What was once a dress like snow, was now blemished with something like charcoal. A sickly sweet smell entering my nostrils as it did.

But I didn't focus on that…

I instead focused on the burning sensation that began to spread through my body.

I let out a small scream, one filled with both terror and pain. The sight of flames licking my body causing these feelings to grow even further.

I quickly dropped to the ground, rolling over onto my back. Hoping that such an action would force the flames to sputter out.

But just as I began to roll, I felt a boot at my side. Forcing me to stop rolling, bringing the flames to light once again, forcing me to let out a loud scream of pain.

I put up my aura, hoping that it will defend against the fire, or at least end the burning pain.

But a loud thud echoed out, as a boot hit my aura. Tiny little sounds coming from my aura, like glass beginning to shatter, as the fire continued to consume the oil around me. The only thing coming out of me were small coughs from the strike.

"Stop it!" A voice sounded out, the pain too much for me to understand the voice of who was speaking and far too distant. But a part of me knew that it was Blake, the only person who was here that would actually speak those words.

But the only response were my screams of pain and torment, as I was barely able to think. The obvious dust type to use coming to my head to stop the pain…

Then I remembered Klein… The man who always cooked and cleaned for me. Someone who was like an elder brother and an authority figure all wrapped in one. A person who was just like my sister, someone who raised far better than my parents.

I remember the day I asked him to help me cook something for my father… the day I caused a small fire in the kitchen. The sickly sweet smell that I remembered fresh on my nose. I got water, as I had thought it was the smart thing to do.

But he had already beaten it with a rag.

"So long as there's oil, the obvious solution will always make it worse." His eyes shining like light brown globes of earth. The eyes of one who was filled with wisdom and always ready to teach a small lesson.

She never thought that lesson would be helpful, not after father forbade me from cooking. Even giving Klein a reprimand for even helping her.

She'd have to tell Father to give him a raise after this.

I summoned the largest Glyph I could muster in my unconcentrated state, as I could practically feel my soul drain from me. But, I needed it to be as large as it could be. No doubt Venatores was already stalking the downed Blake, hoping to get her blood on his hands.

No amount of care for what may or may not have happened.

Which was why I needed the ice to capture everything in my vicinity. I needed to stop him…

Innocent or not, it wasn't too late for her.

A sudden chill filled the air, something that reminded me of my old home of Atlas. Then it began to grow colder and colder all around me, frost building upon the ground.

Then it was purely freezing, the burning sensation replacing itself with a cold chill across my entire body. Something that made me feel safe to open my eyes once again.

All to see the perfectly sized tomb of Ice that I had made. The cold of such ice forcing the fire to freeze over, far too cold for it to sustain itself.

The ice had already begun to crack, possibly from the hunter still over my body. A black Glyph appears at the base, breaking the ice and pulling me out with it.

Something that was the smart thing to do, seeing as I heard the sound of something like glass shattering. Probably my so-called tomb being destroyed by the Hunter trying to kill us.

I turned around ready for whatever might come.

All except the fact that Venatores was already in my face, sword at the ready. Already prepared and willing to block it. A black Glyph forming at the forefront to help dampen any damage that the sword might do.

Each of his strikes were now far more manageable. It felt like what one was supposed to expect from such a thin blade.

If only it was a bit slower… each strike already at an opening before she could even think about blocking. Already her aura was having to do more work than anything her muscles could do.

But she couldn't focus on that, not right now.

Now she had to make sure that the Glyph on her rapier was still willed into existence…

As well as the ice Glyph that was crafting even more ice. Each of them shaped like large spears…

I had to keep him distracted. I had to make sure that he was winning just for a little while longer. Just so that the next thing that would come would actually be a surprise.

If he saw it coming…

Many doubts began to fill her mind, each of them relating to how all of her attempts at a plan came down. Each of them placed in a way that Venaores could actively see or plan against.

Of course, such a plan could still very well fail.

But it was currently the only plan that I had.

That was enough.

I kept it up, my breath growing ragged and shallow. My own head hurt more than my body, a small migraine coming from the continued concentration as I fought.

Whatever grace that I might've had in my fighting style was not there at the moment. Despite all of my training my style was ragged and clunky. All of which was coming from less concentration, a lack of sleep, and the small burn marking on her body that hurt with every movement.

But his style was still a combination of these two things. It was graceful and deadly, like a beautiful dancer that obtained a blade.

As strange as it sounded… in that moment I held a form of respect for Venatores. The pride of him being better than everyone finally making sense to me.

He was trying to kill Blake… he was ending her life like she was a monster.

But every story I had ever heard of Huntsmen, the ones I grew up on always fought the same way to her. With each stroke of the blade not wasted, but steady and powerful like a stroke of a painter's brush.

Like my sister…

I blocked yet another strike, one that forced him to blade lock in. But Venatores had turned the blade to the other side, forcing it's way past my block and aura to bite into my shoulder.

I swallowed the scream that began to build in my throat, switching the black Glyph behind me so I could retreat.

I forced myself to stay up, my hand on my shoulder. The red of my blood mixed mildy with the new black stains on my dress.

Strangely enough Venatores didn't follow, he just stood right where he was. Doing something that brought me a huge amount of satisfaction and pride. As well as a large amount of unknown horror.

I made him try…

Wasn't anything special… nothing like I was doing, trying to suck as much oxygen out of the air as possible. But it was heavier than anything else he did during this entire fight, a small sheen of sweat on his brow. His face was still set into that furrowed brow, as it always was, focusing on me in case I did anything.

Never realizing what was forming above him.

I looked around slightly, expanding my peripheral in hopes of finding the only person I was looking for. Keeping a sharp eye on the hunter as I did, hoping to see another piece of white in this dark forest.

Only at the farthest point of my vision behind me, did I see the faintest shine of a dark metal. The sheath of hers in the front, a feeble attempt to protect herself from the person I was intercepting.

I quickly turned my head back to the Hunter, making sure that he didn't do anything else that would be of danger to either of us.

But all he did was rumage slightly through his pockets, his singular eye fully focused on me. As if he knew by instinct the thing was what he was looking for.

All that I gained from it, was that it was now the perfect time to start the plan.

I moved my hand, the sudden action causing Venatores to flinch, strangely causing him to move forward. His blade raised with a bright light ready to strike me at me with extreme precedence.

But it wasn't him that the Glyph formed under, using the last of my white Dust.

It was me, the Glyphs cold wind telling me where I will fly to.

I accepted it, taking the smallest step back. Such an action flinging me across the alcove, before landing right next to Blake. Something that she jumped from in shock.

"Stay still." I spoke up, my voice not as powerful as I wanted it. The large intakes of breaths making me look more like a madman than anything else. The hamner of my Mrytenanster clicking as it moved to the dust that I needed.

I made a large Glyph below me, enough to fit only the both Blake and I safely. The tint became darker as the dust cylinder clicked into place.

It began to lift off into the air, Venatores quickly making his way towards us. Each of his steps, still quiet, despite the quick pace he had towards us.

His blade began to glow, just as we were launched upwards. The black of the Glyph became clear to see as we set off above. Like a bird who was just released from his cage.

The Glyph suddenly cracked at my feet, something that caused the fear to resurface again. The Hardlight dust from Venatores' cruel sword hitting the gravity dust of my Glyph. I quickly put more dust into it. The Glyph quickly repaired itself as if the damage didn't exist.

I still wasn't relieved, however… nothing would, so long as he was below us.

But he wouldn't be for long.

It was at that moment of my thoughts, that we passed my latest creation. Each of them hovering around twenty feet over the forest that we were a part of mere moments ago.

Each of them spears of ice, around the size of an average person. The only thing holding them up was the large ice Glyph that I used to create my tomb.

All of them were in uniform lines, like they were soldiers about to fall to the ground. At least eighty or them holding no differentiating feature between them. All of them still standing in the air thanks to a giant black Glyph holding them all in place.

Before the hunter could even realize what was about to happen, I quickly clicked the hammer of my blade. The Dust cylinder turning before landing on the one dust I hadn't truly used yet. With the black Glyph below us still in my focus, I crafted hundreds of the same Glyph below. Each in a perfect circle, around forty feet in diameter.

Each of them blazing a bright orange, before being consumed by inferno each one caused.

It made me able to see what was happening, even from this far up. It also had the added benefit of keeping Venatores Luna right where he was supposed to be.

In a giant death trap, designed for him.

I started to take out more dust from my pouch, not even bothering to load them into my blade. Each canister of Gravity and Wind dust in the palm of my hand.

I started crafting more runes, my mind reeling from the strain of so much concentration. Each of them forming at the tip and back of every spear-like icicle. White Glyphs on the end, with black ones on the very tips.

A gasp of breath escaped my lungs, my Aura far too low to still be doing anything this strenuous. I could feel my heart in every bit of my brain as it worked overtime to keep this up. A fear that I would begin to pass out or something worse.

But I kept it up, knowing that this was going to be what saved my friend.

The only thing it needed was the finishing touch.

I circled my hands once again, this time far below me. The wide eye of the hunter staring back at me, a feeling of pure pride at the amount of shock it held. Each of the black Glyphs appearing on a surface that he didn't expect.

Two on the hunters arms, and the other on his legs. Each spear shifting slightly to one of those four Glyphs. Ready to be launched at any second.

He looked down at the areas, possibly with a mixture of confusion and horror.

As cruel as it may have sounded, it was something that I wanted to see. See the blood drain from his pale face as he realized what might happen.

Another part of me even started to say that I could still stop. To use the glyph keeping me and Blake up to just run away. Maybe even use the trap as leverage, to stop Blake from getting killed.

I had wanted to save Blake, give her a chance at redemption… Shouldn't I give him one too? A chance to stop this.

A determined glare washed over my face… But my hands were shaking, a fear of what might happen bubbling into me.

But I couldn't do that.

I saw that look on his face through the entire fight… the determined scowl. Like he truly believed what he was doing was right.

I couldn't redeem that. I couldn't find anything in myself to redeem that.

"The hunt for beasts cannot end."

My hand began to shake more, my mind silently drifting to that place as I stared down at him. All except for that… but even now I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Or maybe I didn't want to. The way he said it was supposed to be like he stated a fact, but every time I replayed it… It sounded sad...

"Even now… His memory brings a shared hope and annoyance."

Could I really do this?

Could I really potentially end a life for another?

Could I act like my father, callus and unforgiving, for the smallest of seconds?

"Weiss!"

I turned to Blake, the shock of hearing her voice for so long breaking me out of my own mind. My concentration on the Glyphs almost breaks alongside it.

But what broke it was the large shove into my chest. Despite me not being able to see it, I knew the Glyphs fizzled out. Each of the ice spears feeling the same weightlessness that I had felt.

I was betrayed… I was betrayed as I stared into the yellow eyes of Blake Belladonna. My teammate that also began to fall as the Glyph disappeared like it didn't exist.

The yellow eyes that began to disappear in a large bolt of blue electricity. One that I barely dodged from the push by my own teammate.

I barely even thought as I began to plummet to the ground… it was only when I saw her body did I react, quickly forming another white Glyph to gently catch her. The air of the glyph keeps her up off of it like a soft cushion.

Which was right before I hit the ground, all the air leaving my lungs as my back hit it. The Glyph I had created fizzling out again.

For a couple of seconds that was all it was. Sprawled on my back, unable to breath as my teammate was still plummeting downward. Right alongside every single one of the ice spears. Each of them falling sporadically.

It was only when I was able to get a long deep breath did I stand up, hunched over like a gargoyle on a building.

I could see Blake on the ground on her side about ten feet away from me. Sprawled onto her side as smoke wafted off of her clothes and skin, the icicles narrowly missing her body.

She looked dead...

As I began to slowly up, every muscle in my back constricted to try and force me back down. But I still got onto my hands and feet, quickly crawling over to my downed teammate. The fear of what might've happened greater than the pain ever could.

It must have been funny to see on the outside. The heiress of a multibillion lien corporation crawling through the dirt like an animal.

But I couldn't care at the moment

Looking around the now burning woods around us, smoke quickly making its way up.

I used as much aura as I could, as I reached into my bag. A large blue glyph above the area that was burning began to make a self induced rain.

Each strike of the rain was like a tiny piece of cold relief. The dying sounds of the fire whispered in my ears as I kneeled by Blake.

The one who was still breathing, shallowly as if she were in a deep sleep. Many burns and scratches apparent on her skin, even in the growing darkness.

The breath I was unknowingly holding spilled out, a need to almost cry following suit.

But I instead reached into my bag, hoping to pull out at least another blue and yellow cylinder of it. Hoping that I could make a Green Dust Crystal to help my teammate out.

But just as I did, my weapon was taken from my hand. The rain stopped alongside it, leaving the cold night air to assault me.

The fear I held quintupled in size, a small sound of something hitting a tree echoing out. I turned slowly to it, seeing my Mrytenanster sticking out of a large tree trunk. The size of the tree, even when burned black, making it look like a small dart on the side of a wall.

I kept turning my head, seeing the thing I dreaded most about this night. Two things different about him that instantly brought my attention.

In his hand was a small mace like object. It's smooth and shined ball head almost like a mirror. A large hole was in the top of it, as if something was supposed to go into it, and a line across its diameter. A small spark of blue energy connecting the lines before it quickly disappeared.

The handle was a deep crimson, like the color of blood, far too high to its handle. Even the handle looked thin, as if it would break like a toothpick if anyone handled it too roughly. At the end of it was a long thin blade , loose dirt falling off it as if it was stabbed into the ground.

What was even stranger about it… was that it started to disappear in his hands. Fading away like it didn't even exist in the first place. Little motes of light flickering and in and out of existence, before fully disappearing.

He looked fine…

I turned to his side, the memory of me striking it still fresh in my mind.

But it was gone… no marks whatsoever, as if it didn't even exist. The only proof that it might have even existed was the singed leather around his smooth pale skin.

Then she looked up… and noticed a third difference about him.

The look was gone… that look of nothingness on his face was gone. The darkness in his eyes was replaced by a small light. The light that made his eye change into that distracting purple.

Instead all that was on his face was a curious glance. Switching between me and the downed girl right beside me.

I instantly raised myself up, trying to block her with my body. My muscles felt like large pieces of lead strapped with Gravity Dust. Yet, I shockingly was able to remain standing.

But for the longest time, he didn't do anything. He just kept staring between me and her… The tense atmosphere filled the entire forest as I waited for him to do anything. Very pointedly looking at his sword.

It was only after what felt like centuries, did he finally do something.

"Your mistake was hesitating."

My entire mind halted at that. The fear and tense atmosphere lifting, as if he told a small joke.

"E-excuse me?" I managed to speak, my jaw somehow as heavy as all of my other muscles. The voice I let out still a little strained from the fall I took.

"You hesitated." He spoke, looking at me directly with his single eye. The color somehow the perfect mix of purple and black. Something that made him look both dangerous yet somehow charming. I even momentarily forgot that I was supposed to hate him, the change so… weird on him. "It gave me enough time to take you down..."

He then turned his eye to the downed Blake, something that made me tense up all over again, a growl at the edge of my lips. A hand reaching for a canister of some kind of dust.

"If it weren't for the fact I was aiming for you," He began again, a dangerous air to his voice that made the night air somehow colder. "Those burns would be far worse."

A chill traveled from the top of my head all the way down to the tip of my toes. A large wad of saliva making its way to block my throat, that I was forced to swallow.

"Other than that," He spoke, the chill in his tone disappearing instead returning to his usual monotone. It almost gave me whiplash, with how different the tone was a mere second ago. "A waste of Dust as well as a lack of any real physical prowess…"

"Hey!" I shouted indignantly, my anger rising despite my tired mind. The shout caused a ghost of a smile to appear on his face, one that was still cold. As if he took slight pleasure in my complaints.

He turned to me, his eye shining that mysterious color of his once again. The smile grew just a tiny bit wider. Something that almost made him look approachable, even in the darkness of the woods.

"It was a good hunt."

All I could manage was a large and slow blink. The compliment slapping me across the face, a small blush making its way up my neck. It was so unexpected that I had almost fallen to the ground.

I expected him to start quickly laughing. Something that would have made more sense then the game he was trying to play. As if he wanted to be liked even after everything he was going to do.

He then gestured his sword to Blake, the smile disappearing from his face. I was even tempted to think that it was an illusion of my mind.

"She's your responsibility now…" He spoke up, looking as if he just told me that I would have to take care of a pet. "You and your teams."

He turned back, the eye of his back to it's dark and deadly color. Forcing me to take a step back and to reach for a weapon I knew I didn't have.

"Don't abuse the faith I've given."

The tone reminded me of my father.

He used that tone of voice every time that someone important was coming over to dinner. Always ensuring that she and her brother were on our best behaviours.

It made her flinch farther back than she wanted to, her foot almost stepping on Blakes unconscious form.

"Why…" I spoke, a fear in my voice that appeared against my wishes. My eyes shifted back down to the ground below me. I coughed a tiny bit, trying my hardest to clear the fear from my voice. "Why the change?"

He quirked his one visible brow, as if he had noted the fear that I felt. Looking down at my feet, as if trying to measure the distance I retreated from him.

"... Beasts are selfish creatures." He spoke, his voice filled with a contempt for the creatures he spoke of. The word crawling across his throat like a tiny growl. "What they do in life, and how they do it, is only a service to themselves."

"They take pleasure in what anyone decent would find repulsive." He spoke, turning his eye to the ground. Looking at each piece of earth like it were the creatures he spoke of. "All of them repulsed by the simplest joys of life and decency."

"Like a Grimm." I spoke, unable to help see the similarities between the creatures he described and the demons that roamed the world.

He nodded, agreeing with my note. His eye turned right to me once again, the face he was making almost sad. It barely even changed, yet it gave of a feeling of deep melancholy.

"A beast cannot save a life… only relish in it's destruction."

My father once again returned to the forefront of my mind. His life was filled with trying to amass his wealth, even at the expense of others.

Even at the expense of his own family.

The lightning bolt and Blakes eyes returned to me.

Cannot save a life… a life that Blake had done mere minutes ago.

"When she wakes… she should thank you." He spoke, interrupting me from my thoughts once again. His eye now purely focused on my fallen teammate.

"You're being here is truly the only reason she still draws breath."

It was stated as a fact… another thing that made a blush approach my face. It was strange to hear a true compliment from anyone… especially the person standing in front of her.

I was supposed to hate him…

He was a killer, like all the White Fang members who had sent death threats to my family's doors. Each of them caused a fear for her life, and another reason I was always locked away. It was one of the factors that caused my mother to drink.

He was like them.

He was supposed to be the monster.

But why wasn't he?

Was I just confused…

Even as I continued to look at him… the person that I had started to know this past month faded away the tiniest bit.

He wasn't the person who had scolded me in front of the entire class. He wasn't the one who always took every chance to belittle me in every way. He wasn't even the killer from a week ago…

He was a different person entirely… A sad and lonely person who spoke of killing monsters in the world.

Or maybe he was the real one?

A funny thought appeared at the top of my head, one that would explain everything that I had thought previously.

Perhaps this is the person Mors Ignis sees.

A person with a large wall around him, so thick it could withstand anything that would come to harm him.

A man worried that everything would come to get him in the long run, like a beast waiting for its prey.

It reminded me of myself… My father demanded me to change into something I didn't understand. The princess who had to hold their head high, the heiress who couldn't be an embarrassment to him.

The one Yang, rightfully, called the Ice Queen.

A hand broke me out of my thoughts. The palm faced upwards, as if it was expecting something.

"Your relic."

I looked up at him, the person who I had met a month ago returning. Something that made my scowl return, even if I wasn't forced to give the thing that would fail us.

A part of me wanted to stall a little longer, hopefully in a chance that something would happen. Something like the headmaster overseeing what Venatores did, and was about to end it.

But someone as cautious and highly respected as our headmaster, would have stopped something like this almost immediately.

I sighed longingly, as if I was watching my failure wash away.

Right before Venatores spun around, his blade pointed to the other side of the alcove. I jumped at the sudden change in the atmosphere, a cold and deadly aura affecting me. Something that sent shivers across my body

As well as the red hot feeling that battled against me. Each of them fighting for control for what I was feeling.

I stepped to the side slightly, a hope building in my chest that continued to grow and grow. The cold feeling beaten away from the atmosphere.

A small light was at the end of the tunnel, a bright golden light reminiscent of the sun. Multiple cracks echoing out against the silent forest.

Her face held a large smile… something that contrasted the pure red orbs of her eyes. Each of them filled with a rightful amount of rage.

"You have your fun?" She spoke, the voice filled with as much anger as her eyes. "Good."

"Now it's my turn."

She spoke it with such confidence, I couldn't help what came out of my mouth. As if it was drawn out by what her brawler teammate said.

"I think I'll keep it."

---

Yang

A few minutes ago...

It was pretty obvious where to go.

I mean lightning doesn't fall out of thin air, on a clear night like this. So of course something obviously was going on.

Then I peered as hard as I could across the forest, seeing the blazing fire that was happening. The limbs of it consuming every part of that circle in the woods.

Yep…

It was definitely Weiss Cream. Only she could make a forest fire that spectacular.

I turned around, looking at my little sister. Her silver eyes lit up with the fire in the distance, not too far and not to close. She probably put the dots together as well.

Something that she stated the obvious to.

"We should go." She spoke clearly, the first words that she had spoken in the past twenty minutes. I didn't even dare to speak up, the atmosphere tense against my rarely angry sister.

Any attempt at jokes were met with cold hard silence. Any attempts at a helping hand were refused.

Anything that reminded me of my sister in those minutes was gone. Instead she acted like Blake, silent and filled with angst.

I clearly couldn't help my partner… how could I help my sister?

No… just stay focused. Stay focused on being the positive one.

Ruby couldn't be that force right now, so the burden laid on me. She didn't even look like she could fight at all, let alone go up against someone who scares her.

Be the happy and confident sister you always are. Extend it just a little farther to the Ice Queen and our new cat friend, so they can smile a little better.

Besides, a beatdown could make me feel much better about tonight.

"No…" I spoke up, the large smile on my face. A hand reaching out to the shoulder of my little sister. "I should go."

All she could do was look at me in shock, as if I said, 'let me jump off a cliff.'

"Oh come on," I said, slapping her shoulder a little harder, but just enough for it not to hurt. Trying to beat her out of her gloomy mind. "I've got this."

"... But what if you don't." She spoke, her eyes looking at me with their brilliance. Even now she just wanted to stare at them. Getting lost in them as if she were looking at the stars in the sky, or twin moons that hung next to each other.

I almost felt my eyes glow red at that sentence. Not specifically at my sister, but the doubt that was somehow filling her.

Another thing ruined by Venatores this week…

Not that anything really existed between our team.

No! Stop with the negative stuff!

Was Blake and Ven rubbing off on her? If that was the case, I should probably hang out with Mors even more. There was a guy who shined just bright enough for people, without blinding them with it.

There was something between us and Blake… All of us had each other's back. Wasn't that the only thing that mattered in the long run

"I'm sorry…" I spoke, crossing over my arms in a false indignation. Something that I made clear was false. "How many times have you ever seen me lose?"

"Once." My sister spoke instantly, a small roll of her eyes as she did. A thing I always did for her every time I went to do a small brawl with my friends.

Something that started on my first day of Signal Academy.

Maybe it was slightly annoying… but it made me and Ruby feel better.

"Yep…" I spoke, popping the 'P' in the word, something that I always found enjoyable on my lips. ''And that was against?"

At least that brought the smallest smile on her face. Something that also increased the volume of my own smile.

"Uncle Qrow."

Good ol' Uncle Qrow. Even when he has gone off to who knows where, he still managed to bring a smile to Ruby's face. A shared hero in the eyes of both of us.

True he was also a drunk…

But he was there drunk, goddamnit!

"Can Ven beat Uncle Qrow?" I spoke up, knowing the answer almost immediately.

A snort reached her nose, the smile growing bigger on her face. The answer filled with confidence and cheer, as if I told the greatest joke in the world. "Definitely not."

"But I came close right?" I spoke with confidence, remembering that day like it was yesterday. The day I really activated my semblance, and beat the ever living snot out of my uncle.

"W-well." Ruby spoke up, turning her eyes to the side. The look I've seen almost a hundred times before, everytime she wanted to remind me of something.

Even now I could feel a blush make its way to my face. Something that I barely managed to keep down.

"Hey." I spoke, putting my finger in front of her. The younger sibling wisely kept her mouth shut, knowing my anger first hand. "Don't judge my talent on a loose piece of dirt."

"Anyways…" I spoke, putting my finger down to my side and a hand on the side of my hip. Trying to continue my knowledgeable questions. "If Ven can't beat Qrow, but I nearly beat him doesn't that make me...?"

"Stronger." She spoke, an annoyed tone making its way into her voice. Not truly annoyed, but the special variant of sibling annoyance.

Though I decided to cut her a break, slapping her softly again.

"See," I spoke, the smile on my face growing even brighter. "Even you know it!"

But it didn't have the effect I wanted.

"Okay…" The voice was filled with the same worry that she had throughout the entire forest.

I was already worried the moment we got here… then twenty minutes ago happened. The worry only got worse and worse. Even now, a small memory waited at the back of my head…

The memory of a girl waiting for her mother. An emotion that built up in me, that made me feel so protective over this one girl.

The feeling that I practically could do nothing for her.

But…

I flicked her forehead, the unexpected thing causing her to flinch before she stared at me in annoyance.

Right before they widened, as she quickly caught the thing thrown at her.

That didn't mean I couldn't try.

What I gave her was the one thing she gave to me at the beginning of our little quest. The decoy that would supposedly save us all.

"W-what?" She spoke, looking back down to the relic and back to me. She moved her head so quickly between the two that I thought she was using her semblance.

"You're the fastest out of all of us…" I spoke, the jokingness that I tried to keep in it vanishing. Instead replaced by a small tinge of seriousness and faith. "You're the only one who can keep these safe."

"I thought you sai-" She began, before I quickly cut her off. Not rudely, but as a gentle reminder.

"You said that this was about survival?" Her eyes widened, probably remembering those she had spoken to Blake.

"So it should go to the person who can outrun anyone in the world."

Shockingly, the only thing that Ruby could manage was a blush. Rubbing the back of her head as she tried to look anywhere but into my eyes.

It was humble, and adorable. Something that I touched upon as I rustled her hair with my hand.

Before she could even say anything, I turned around. The smile disappeared from my face as the fire was no longer where it was. The worry growing of Weiss' possible defeat or trouble.

"Don't worry…" I spoke, already beginning my run into the deep of the woods. "I'll be back!"

I didn't even bother to use the bullets of my Ember Celica. After all, despite my love of up close and personal fighting, Ven seemed to be the distant type.

Hehe… Distant.

Not the time for jokes, albeit good ones.

My face grew serious as I began to sprint more and more, now able to see the charred pieces of wood. The flames twisting and darkening the wood, making them more monstrous in the dark night.

A small amount of pride entered me at my quickness to get there.

Ruby may have been the fastest one on our team, but that didn't make the rest of us slow.

I quickly walked over, uncaring for the branches under my feet. They could snap all they wanted, it wasn't like I needed stealth.

Then I reached a clearing…

More like a small graveyard.

I could see icicles around the whole place, each of them slowly beginning to melt. Each of them either standing tall and proud in the dirt, or pathetically on their side. Despite the rather cold night, the icicles were still melting. Even the ground at her feet felt wet.

I turned my head each time, trying to find anything of my and Ruby's partner.

Only did I look fully across did I see them.

The only similarity that they currency shared, was that Ven was practically standing over them. Almost as if they were insignificant…

But my eyes turned red at the downed body of my partner. Even from the distance and darkness of the woods, she was knocked out. Multiple burns across her body, as if she were burned alive.

Then there was Weiss… Looking so un-Weiss-like.

And by that, I meant absolutely filthy. Dirt and oil covering her pure white dress, making her look like a piece of hazardous material. The silver ponytail that was usually so neat, looked frayed and weary as she did.

But the piece that increased my anger was the small stain of blood on her shoulder. Something that I was able to see in the dimmest lights of the forest.

I barely even noticed Ven turn around. His sharp gaze instantly meeting my own, as if he could feel the anger boiling off me.

Something came out of my mouth, a smart remark or two, I didn't care.

Right now all I wanted was for my fist to meet his skull.

Which is what I did, as I ran forward.

Only for Ven to meet me halfway, blade at the ready. His strike piercing my shoulder, giving me a dull feeling of pain that I ignored. Making a rushed punch forward, hoping to equal out the strike.

A punch that barely grazed him. Even with Ember Celica's shotgun blast, he moved right past me.

I turned around, where another strike was already coming. This time blocking it with the barest tilt of my hand, bouncing off my weapon. Another fuller punch already on its way.

But the punch went over his head, ducking the tiniest little bit. His Blade ready to stab itself into me with that bright glow of his.

My hands quickly conjoined together, making them look like the smallest hammer. Bringing them down onto the coming Ven as I ignored his stab forward.

After all, it was only going to help me in the long run.

But even before my arms came down, he was gone. The only thing that told me he was there was the dull pain in my stomach, as my aura blocked the strike.

It was like he disappeared as my arms hit nothing but the air. I nearly even toppled over, the weight of my strike leading me forward the tiniest bit.

Then I did, as my back arched at the dull pain, the surprise shocking me onto the ground.

I didn't even give him a second, quickly getting up from the ground and turning around. Low on the ground my knee and arms defending me in a simple guard.

But what I saw from behind it, shocked me. Enough to the point where I momentarily forgot my anger.

After all…

He was fiddling with his pistol, instead of taking the opportunity to attack me. Spinning the runic like design of his gun, before quickly pulling it off. The additive of the gun coming off effortlessly, transforming it into a regular pistol.

The blade he had always carried was on his back, as if he didn't need it at the moment.

My anger returned, this time brighter than ever. My aura reflected that, as my hair grew brighter and brighter. Acting like a small sun in the darkness of the woods.

I rushed forward again, using my Ember Celica to launch me even fast.

Nothing like a quick haymaker to force someone to pay attention to you.

Ven flinched at the sound, his eyes turning away from his work for the barest second. But he returned to it, fiddling with the hammer of the pistol.

Just as the haymaker was about to meet his cheek…

He disappeared again, though this time something slammed in the back of my head. It barely even hurt like it just bounced off simply.

It certainly annoyed me, something I always loved fighting the quick types…

The annoyance pays off when they're thrown into the opposing wall. Almost like a rag doll thrown across the room in anger from a child.

I threw my hand behind in a backwards slap. The metal armlet around my wrist meeting metal. Both sounds ring true throughout the forest, like a small bell.

I thought it was finally my chance. The first time my strength would be able to do anything in the coming fight.

But a hand suddenly met my palm, a great push that caused me to almost topple forward. The force of my hand causing my feet to leave the ground. A thing that should have made me fall.

At least it made the perfect chance for a sudden haymaker, one that I acted upon as I tried to watch Ven's shock.

There was another clash of metal, the sound of a bell ringing out through the forest. Something that I finally managed to catch, the world shrinking from my shock.

It was the barrel of his gun… the one that he removed and was using it like a small mace. Then he pushed the tiny barrel, causing me to begin to fall again.

As his knee climbed towards my face.

This was going to hurt.

I closed my eyes, my arms far too slow to guard my face. Just as the tip of my nose crunched against the knee of Ven.

Despite the Ven's lack of strength, the knee was still the knee. The only thing harder than it was the one stuck on top of my neck.

I even remembered when Dad taught me how to fight. Each of his strikes is weak, even to someone who is twelve years old. I got confident and proud, and rushed forward with my arm raised high.

Only for my face to meet his raised knee.

Yep…

Even after all this time, it was incredibly painful. Like all of the bones in my face wanted to crack open, my nose squishing so uncomfortably that it made my eyes water.

This was with aura… something that made me question what would have happened if I didn't have it.

But I fought through the pain, rolling backwards to avoid the blow that might've come. Tears already started to form in my eyes, despite the help of the aura that protected me.

I turned back to him…

As he pulled the pin that held the true barrel in place. The large piece of metal like a steel pipe began to fall, before quickly wretched from the air.

He looked through it and gave a sharp tsk. As if he noticed something wrong with the design of his weapon. The decorative piece still in his hand like a bat, prepared for anything I would launch at him.

Something that I did exactly.

I shifted my arms the tiniest bit, the gun portion of Ember Celica becoming more apparent. As I began to punch the air at Ven. Large fireballs around the size of my torso beginning to run towards his head.

He looked up, as if he was now interested in what was happening.

Before moving his head to the side, the fireball missed him by an inch. The only real damage that it did was the tiniest singeing of his hair and skin. Using the most minimal movement to dodge the incoming blasts.

I kept doing the same thing, now beginning to aim at his feet. Hoping that even the tiniest blasts of dirt might hurt him.

But all he did was dodge. Each of the blasts were not as important as the gun in front of him, something that he showed with each turn away.

At the very least the eye of his was focused on the blasts, instead of her project. Each one examined closely before each movement.

I stopped after only a couple of seconds, each of my shots missing their target by a minimal amount.

I was furious and frustrated. But he looked calm, standing beside a large tree, still examining the gun of his. Right before he looked behind and up at the tree.

I looked up, seeing something silver sticking out of it…

It was only after a second did I realize it was Weiss' sword… My… Myens…

The prissy rapier she always carried.

Before I could even do anything, he jumped up. Wrenching the princess' blade from it's wooden scabbard.

Then he did something again…

He placed the spear at the end of the barrel.

And stabbed it forward faster than I could process. A small piece of lead coming out of the other end, looking like a garbled mess.

Strangely enough, it wasn't my voice that echoed out across the woods.

"Hey!" The previously quiet heiress spoke out, pointing at her sword. A look of outrage on her face, possibly at the idea of Ven even touching her sword.

He ignored her, as did I. Watching as he reassembled his gun in record time, with a small look of satisfaction.

Something that pissed me off even more.

"Are we fighting or not!" I spoke out, my teeth grinding against each other. His attention still focused on his gun as he stared down the barrel. Probably to make sure that it was still straight so it would shoot properly.

"Or are you just too scared to do anything!?"

Dark Souls 3: Sister Friede

That was a mistake.

His eye turned to me with its darkness. Like an invisible force that wanted me to fall to the floor, begging for my life…

A feeling that felt familiar, like the hand of a cold and fearful memory trying to grab at me from within. The memory that started me on this mission to become a huntsman in the first place.

Something that had the side effect to cause me to shiver, leaving the anger within frozen.

Then he spoke, something that should have been a whisper crawling into my head. Every word like a claw on every part of my mind and body.

"I have faced beings whose very cry could shake the stars from the sky…" He spoke, his eye equal to the darkness around him. Even the light coming from my aura was acting like it was swallowing it. Reaching for the sword at his back, Weiss' blade falling to his side in the dirt.

"As if a childish tantrum could scare me."

The fire in me lit once again, brushing past the cold that I was feeling. Both of my fists in front of me in a boxers stance, ready to attack him. Rushing towards him before he could even react.

Strangely enough, he did react. Something that I didn't expect for him to do.

He just raised his gun, pointing right at the edge of my leg.

As if that was going to stop me! A simple little gun that wouldn't eve-

The bullet impacted my leg, pushing it back farther than I wanted it to. Forcing my other leg to have to compensate.

Before I could even register it, I was kneeling in front of him. Staring at me like I was a rodent in his way blade raised cruelly. Coming down in a large slash across my chest, the dull pain throbbing despite the lack of wound. Like my body instinctively thought a wound would show.

I quickly got up rolling away without a second thought. Seeing that the person who dubbed himself Hunter.

H-how did that happen? My shifting from the fever from all of my thoughts, each time trying to explain how I got on the ground like that.

All the while, the man was just silent and slow. Perfectly content with waiting, as he slowly moved around me, like a wolf waiting to strike. His small steps barely make any splashes in the newly created water of the ice spears.

I-it must have been luck…

I gripped my hands bringing them up again. Rushing to the side as fast as I could, trying to find the perfect moment to attack.

I launched two of my bullets at Ven, each time he took merely a second before dodging away. Each of them perfect and uniform, like he had practiced each a hundred times. They were smooth and effortless, and somehow graceful.

It only ticked me off more. As I began to realize no matter how many of these I throw at him, none of them would ever hit. Despite their size, they were too slow for the nimble man, dodging them like it was a part of some play.

Which meant up-close and personal was the only way to win…

Something that was my specialty.

I rushed forward, my arms still raised in defense in case that bullet came. Bobbing and weaving like I was taught to do.

But he still stayed still, barely turning himself around to face me, but just enough for his eye to see me.

Just as I got close to him, I spun around. My elbow stretched out to hurt him in the back of the head.

He merely moved his head the tiniest bit, barely missing it.

I followed with a high kick aimed for the small of his back. Hoping that I would hit him in just the right area to make him short of breath.

Something that he blocked with a simple sheathing of his balde, as if he knew where I was aiming.

He reached his foot out, grabbing my other foot as if trying to trip me.

I merely turned in the air, positioning my feet on the ground. My arm pulled back for a punch .

Then I was on my knees again…

He didn't even bother to strike me, just looking at me with a sideway glance.

I had to retreat again… my frustration and anger growing and growing despite the cold glare he was trying to give me.

It was as if nothing I could do would help…

Just like everything that was happening tonight. All I could do was nothing but be confident, talk and try to comfort those around me.

Something that only added a strong fuel to the fire of my anger. The hair on my eyes begins to look more like fire than actual hair.

You got this!

With the amount of damage that you've taken from him today, you can come back!

I just needed that moment… that one moment that will end it all. Something she clearly couldn't do so long as he was doing nothing but wait.

"Why are you fighting me like this!" I screamed out, my arms outstretched to welcome any oncoming attack. Confident that it would only help me in the long run. While also having the additional effect of godding him to attack me. "Come on!"

All he did was look at me unchanging in anything.

He was just waiting there… as if he was alone in the alcove that the three of us shared.

Then his hand moved, a swipe that brought light into the forest. From a sword that somehow had the properties of a certain Hardlight dust.

And it missed… whiffing the air in front of her. Something that I instinctively feel that it did.

I wanted to laugh out loud, I wanted to do anything that would embarrass Venatores Luna.

But all I could do was see a few strands of my hair fizzle out and die…

Right before they started to fall to the ground.

That action caused my hair to glow even brighter, like an inferno that would catch everything on fire.

I always loved my hair… I loved it's length and everything about it. The way it bounced, the way it curled, the way how it smelled good even after a hard workout.

It took an hour to even shower, and almost another to tame it. It was almost not worth the effort… but it was satisfying to see every time when people just looked at it.

She hated it… When it was cut.

It made me rage…

It made me not care…

It made me want to hurt him!

"AUGHH!" I screamed out, rushing to him without a care in the world. My hair following right behind me like a torch in the night. The earth breaking at my feet as I launched myself forward.

Even as I got close enough, he still didn't look fazed. If anything he looked more intrigued, like I was a creature under a microscope.

I punched forward, the sound of a gunshot filling the area. The gunshot from my Ember Celica sounding out.

Ven dodged to the side, making a large slash. Something that I didn't even bother to defend against as I kept swing and swinging at the moving target in front of me. Each miss only gave me more power as I attacked.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't hit me with that stupid gun, so long as I kept attacking.

I punched forward again, this time my Ember Ceilca clicking, meaning that it ran out of ammo. Something that I didn't even care about, as I kept trying to hit him.

Nothing was intricate, nothing was special.

All I did was keep punching forward, hoping to break my fist across his face. Each time I did however he just dodged, followed by the quickest swipe of the sword. Each one only fueling the growing inferno of hair, as well as my pool of strength.

But nothing worked… all the while my breath was growing shallow and heavy. Each strike doing nothing but tire me out.

And all Ven did was speak.

"Your Semblance," He spoke, each word cruelly grabbing at my mind, bringing me nothing but a cold feeling in my gut. It was as if I was being poisoned with each word he spoke. "Grants you strength when you withstand an attack."

"It is a decent thing..." He continued, the forming of what might've been a compliment, as he dodged my strike to his face. "So long as it's held in the hands of a novice."

Each word he spoke… it just made me angrier and angrier. I was practically seeing red as I kept up with each and every attack. A whisper at the back of my mind, trying to call out my name in a crude way to distract me from Ven.

Something I ignored as I kept striking each time. Hoping that the next punch would do it, as I kept wildly flailing at him.

"In the hands of a true master, however" He kept speaking, the words begining to blend together. The haymaker parried to the side with the dent in the back of his blade. "One strike becomes the last."

"Yet it has made you reckless and arrogant."

I let out another scream, striking the earth with fist. The strike created a small ranged earthquake that destroyed the earth around me. The dirt cracked as it happened, hoping that something would hit him.

He merely jumped, the destruction passing over him, merely landing with perfect grace on the upturned earth.

He wasn't even dirty!

I striked again, just as he dodged yet another attack.

"You let yourself be hit," He spoke, punctuating his sentence with a quick and powerful strike at my side. "To gain strength."

A growl escaped my throat, as I punched towards the sound of his voice. It was beginning to grate on me, each and every word. The annoyance only served as a conduit for more of my rage.

"You believe it to be the key to every solution." He kept saying, each time dodging all of my strikes.

Then I moved forward, my foot dragging across the earth… When did they become so heavy?

The foot struck a piece of the loose dirt I created mere moments ago, forcing on to the ground. My breath was heavy as I tried to replace the tiredness with fresh oxygen.

"All the while…" He continued, my eyes trying to meet him as much as possible.

The only thing I was able to see was the sharp metal boot coming for my face.

"You become clumsy," He spoke, kicking me in my side. The foot of his sharp and dangerous, as it stabbed into me.

"Tactless." He spoke again, another kick punctuating his sentence. This time I tried to grab it, hoping that squeezing it would stop the pointless lecture.

But he dodged backward, a sharp pain entering my side.

"Predictable."

That word itself was spoken like a curse… no, like a demon from the depths of whatever it belonged to. As I tried to slowly rise up, the small break that I got on the ground worked wonders. The rage I felt made it even better.

"You let it rule you," He spoke, as he looked at me with his sharp sword. His words sharper than the edge could ever be.

"Believing in it," He began the words he was about to speak like a whip about to lash. "More than you ever did yourself."

The world was a blur, each shape indistinguishable from the other. The silver of his blade, the darkness of his eyes all of it merged to form one giant spot in the middle of dark green…

The only thing I had to hit in this damn forest.

"Shut up!" I screamed out, hoping my yell would drown out the damned taunts. Ready to explode outward at any point in time, hopefully before he even speaks the next word.

"Those could be forgiven," He spoke, the blackness of his form disappearing. The words only convey an emotion instead of any real word. "In the right moments… If you have control."

The words were pitiable… They were weak…

It was the perfect moment to strike. The ground below me broke more and more as I rushed forward once again. The colors grew a little bit more clearer as I got closer and closer.

This was it…

This is the moment that they are all sent flying. The wind howled more ferociously than any of my previous screams. My fist gripped in a way that made my hand the all mighty hammer, ready to pound him against the wall.

Then the world was normal again… The colors separate and true. A dull pain shooting through my leg, as something dripped down from it.

I looked down at the ground, my feet kneeling on the ruined earth. As if a Crusher had made it's way through the ground I had stepped on.

H-how did I ge-?

"But in this entire fight…"

I looked back up, my arm twisting against my will as I looked towards it…

But the only thing waiting for me was that eye of nothingness…

As he held my arm, his other hand still holding the steaming pistol he shot at me.

As well as the foot raised onto her twisted elbow… something she quickly recognized, as fear began to over take her. Each drop caused the words he spoke to slow down, and become clear.

"You've only crippled yourself."

A large snap echoed throughout the forest…

And for the first time in a long time, I understood what pain was. Right as my arm began to bend in a way that shouldn't bend, until it practically destroyed the joint.

It wasn't sharp, or dull, blunt anything. It was just there, across her entire arm like it had always been.

I screamed, tears already welling up in my eyes at the excruciating pain that began to eat at my every sense. My vision blurred, my mouth tasted of metal and copper… none of my senses were what they should have been. All of them just focused on the arm that was in excruciating pain.

Then it was bent again, and the whole thing restarted itself. Just as I began to thrash around, trying to hit whatever was moving the arm that hurt so much. My eyes were unable to open as I braced for even more pain to come.

But it just stopped… right as some form of cloth was being wrapped around the entirety of my arm. Like someone was putting me into a cast.

I opened my eyes trying to fight through the pain… with also the possibility of punching whatever nurse was trying to 'help' me. My other arm rising up, ready to continue whatever fight I had to.

Right before it was pushed down without a second thought.

"Stay still."

My eyes turned to the voice, widening in all accounts. The single person I didn't' expect to be tending my arm was. His single eye purely focused on the arm in front of him, a white cloth being tied around it. Possible to make it completely immmobile.

Then it was suddenly tightened as I forced myself not to scream. My teeth biting the sides of my cheeks, in hopes that nothing would come out.

Then it was dropped, my arm feeling somehow weightless.

All the while, Ven got up and began to walk towards the Heiress… A person who rushed right past him, as she came to me. Kneeling again as she tried to look me over. The blue eyes filled with worry and regret.

The helpless child with a broken arm. Who was unable to do anything helpful today, to anyone. Something that was completely vexing and frustrating. Especially as I viewed Ven's unchanged form.

No… he just got…

No… I was beaten fair and square, with nothing to show for it. Only a severe tongue lashing, a broken arm and bruised ego...

"Now then…" Ven spoke up, his hand outstretched forward to the both of us. The palm faced up, as if he was expecting a reward for the beatdown he gave me. "Where were we."

The words were confusing to me… What did he mean by that?

But Weiss' eyes widened in understanding, already reaching into her sleeve.

Right before she pulled out the cloth Ruby gave to us.

I instinctively reached out my right arm, something that made flinch in pain at the unwanted movement. But even if I did move the other one, it would be far too late as she practically launched it from her hand.

He caught it as if it were a baseball. Like it wasn't the only thing keeping us from failing this damn thing. He barely even opened it before he gave another tsk.

I probably would've snorted at that, if I wasn't on my ass. Plus the fact he was standing over me within sword slashing distance… well, technically anything is within sword slashing distance for him.

Then he outstretched his other hand right to me. A hand that I openly glared at, not even bothering to move. Hoping that I would be remembered for doing something in this fight.

Then something hit my face… At first I thought it might've been raining, just another good thing to add about this night. Get my hair wet right after a beatdown sounded great.

But then I realized the rain was hot, like each drop was boiled as it came down. A thick coppery smell entering my nose that I couldn't shake.

It was only when I touched my face, and heard the sound of a distant gunshot did I understand…

I looked up, seeing where the rain had come from.

Right from the elbow of Ven's arm… the exact arm that was broken on me. A gunshot wound the size of a small coin, blood oozing from it. Stopping almost immediately as if it became like instant cement.

Then there was a roar… Not like the one that we heard so long ago within the woods, but a roar of true pain. Something that covered up the echoes from the gunshot.

He quickly turned to the side, as if he instinctively knew where it came from. His eye filled with surprise and fear, a thing that almost looked alien on him.

.

I looked behind him, seeing my partner still embracing the earth. Unmoving and unchanging except for the soft breaths she was inhaling.…

Which only meant…

I turned back around, my fist in the air ready to punch him to the side. My fear of what might happen more than my fear of him.

But he was already gone…

Gone to hunt the only other person in the woods…

My sister.

---

Ruby

That was a terrible idea!

I was sitting on top of a tree, right behind a thick branch with a lot of cover. The leaves doing everything in their power to keep me hidden, despite the red of my hood. Crescent Rose smoking from the Dust shot that I had fired off.

I thought his Aura would protect him from something like that. It wasn't like the bullet was anything truly special, just a single small crystal of fire dust.

I didn't expect him to actually get hurt! Just a tiny little piece of revenge for the broken arm he gave my sister. I would have kept firing if I didn't see the blood shoot out of his arm!

What would have happened if I did?

No! Definitely don't think about that! I practically felt my stomach want to flip inside out, spilling all of its contents into the open forest.

Why did I have to follow Yang! I could've been half way across the forest, somewhere that Venatores could never find me. With my Semblance I could've left no footprints, left no trace, there would have been nothing to track.

It would have been perfect…

It just meant abandoning my sister.

No… that made it sound like I had no confidence in Yang. Something that was completely untrue since she was trained by both Uncle Qrow and Dad. Which, practically, made her one of the strongest students ever.

It was just that Venatores was the scariest person I've ever met, and will meet. Even before last week he kind of scared me. The way he'd appear and disappear without warning, the fact that he always carried a knife and gun.

Of course, I was also jealous. Why couldn't I bring Crescent Rose around school like that?

His resting face was usually a furrowed brow or glare, something that reminded me of both Miss Goodwitch and Weiss when we first met. But it was like it never left, and looked at you judgingly.

Then there was his scary eye, his attitude towards all of them, the apparent pride he takes at being a Hunter...

The list went on for a long time.

But… Even if he wasn't scary, I didn't want to leave her behind.

I couldn't leave her to fight all alone.

Then it happened…

Despite being a large distance away, I could practically hear the snapping of my sister's bone. The sound vibrating in my everything, as time seemed to slow down. Processing everything that was happening in the woods.

Blake was unconscious, Weiss looked terrible…

Now my sister had a broken arm.

It made me angry… he could do all of that and look practically unharmed.

Then there was what happened earlier… The fight Blake and I had. A fight that only left me with anger and some form of loneliness. Even my own sister taking her side, despite everything that was going on.

All that anger, combined with every person I cared for being hurt or worse…

Before I knew it, I just shot at him.

I shook my head, wiping the thoughts from my mind. This wasn't the time to be thinking about this, or regretting what I did.

This was the time to run away. Just run away and get as far away from this section of the woods as possi-.

When did he get in front of me?

Before I could even fathom it, he was right across from me. Standing on a tree branch across from me, his eye solely focused on me and me alone.

Panic swelled into my chest as we stared at each other, neither of us backing down from our staring contest. Time seemed to freeze for the tiniest of seconds.

Then I had to open my mouth, the first thing popping into my mind as I looked at him.

"Sorry?"

He jumped off the branch the moment I said that, sword raised with a blinding light in the dark forest. Something that made me want to study whatever he did to make it do that, so I could integrate it into Crescent Rose.

But I instead disappeared into a cloud of Rose petals, moving backwards and around the trunk of the tree my back was against. Something that felt like I was being taken apart on every level, before moving with a speed unmatched.

I went as far as I could go, before returning to normal. Landing slightly on the ground, as quietly as I could manage. Then I dashed forward with adrenaline and fear in my system, forcing every piece of my body to work on overdrive.

Right as a loud crash came from above, a large piece of tree falling through the branches. The ground shaking with the smallest thud. Another sound that cried out louder and chilled me to the bone.

I quickly used my Semblance again, dashing into some random direction. Jumping large distances each and every time I used it. Knowing that Venatores would be only right behind, despite the forest only being filled with the sound of my beating heart.

He was following my team somehow… and with him calling himself a Hunter, it would be safe to say he was tracking my foot prints.

So I had to make sure that he couldn't. Using my semblance to practically fly, hoping that I wouldn't be followed.

I stopped, quickly making my way behind a large enough tree. Grabbing my red hood and holding it in front of me like a small teddy bear. Each having the effect of a small comfort and keeping the bright red cloak out of sight.

I breathed through my nose, each of them soft and shallow to keep myself as quiet as possible.

Everything was silent… Just as it had been throughout the entire night.

It was as if everything just wanted to make me more terrified than I already was. My legs slightly shook at what might or might not be in the woods. Not knowing where he might, or would even come making the fear rise to my throat.

Something that leaped out as the tree over my head split in half. A half so perfect that it remained standing. The only thing that made me realize what happened was the very sudden rush of wind, and the newly formed shadows in the darkness.

I quickly rushed away, the smell of roses filling my senses as I dashed to my right, out of the cover of the tree. My gun primed and ready to shoot Venatores Luna, his back turned to me.

I fired my gun…

And then he was gone. A faint mist now in the air of the forest, one that was stranger than anything I've seen.

It was pure silver… a silver that reflected whatever tiny piece of light the stars were reflecting. It was beautiful like a mirror, as it rushed towards me. Dissipating as it began to reach me, flowing through me like a ghost.

It was only at the last second did I realize what it was, as impossible as it was. A thing that made me activate my semblance again. Knowing what I would do everytime that I accomplished it.

I split into rose petals, narrowly dodging the strike that was supposed to hit me. Instead being forced to strike the ground.

I quickly turned around, my face reforming in shock as I stared at him. The mist that had enveloped me a second ago coming off of him in excess, disappearing as it got high enough. Each particle of the mist reflecting the light of the moon and stars.

His gaze met mine, it's darkness dimming whatever light he reflected. His blade raised as he disappeared again, the mist traveling quickly to my side.

I switched Crescent Rose to it's scythe form, circling it just enough to block the sword coming for my neck. Shifting it again so that I could put him on the defensive, my blade impacting him.

Right as he disappeared again, the blade shifting the mist like it was an inconvenience. A small piece of familiarity passed through me, as the mist impacted my chest. The familiar presence standing over my back, his sword likely raised high in the air.

I dodged around him, the rose petals quickly making it's way to his back. My scythe primed to strike him back.

As he stared at me, the blade impacted my aura, a sharp feeling spreading across my chest, as he prepped another strike.

Before he even could, I ran. The rose petals disappeared as I fled backwards. Trying to go as far as I could, while able to keep an eye on him.

He did the same, trying to follow me. My mind running a mile a minute, trying to figure out anything that might help me in this situation.

Right before he stopped ten feet in front of me, appearing faintly. The mist forming right into his form, before disappearing once again into another trail.

Something that instantly piqued my interest, as I continued to run. The blade known as the Burial Blade passing through me once again as I disappeared.

He then appeared again. Each time he did so having to stop every twenty or so feet for the smallest second.

It wasn't really like my Semblance… it was like mine and Blakes. The mist helped him do what I do, while also forcing the strike to pass through him.

But, it wasn't without it's faults. Something that I could see almost instantly, thanks to me having a piece of the puzzle.

He could do what I do, get faster and surprise people to the point where it was impossible to defend.

Yet it was also like Blakes, meaning that it had a set distance.

While he could certainly dodge better, I was far faster than anything he could really do.

Something that he probably realized, as his sword began to glow with light.

Which, out of pure reaction alone, made me vanish into a cloud of rose petals. Each petal ready to dodge whatever came, as I ran through him.

A thing that made him dash though my rose petals, as I turned around to try and see him.

Which allowed the blade to scrape across my aura, as he swatted at the rose petals.

After all, it wasn't like Blake's. I wasn't invincible in that form, merely harder to hit. Even then, it practically drained my aura to use it for a long time. It was used for short bursts of speed, something that Crescent Rose was made to help with.

Wasting bullets was far better than wasting aura after all.

I went back to myself, turning Crescent Rose to Venatores, cocking the bullet into the chamber. I pulled the trigger, seeing the bullet fly right towards him.

And pass through him, as he once again became mist. His blade raised once again to hit me, as he quickly appeared in front of me. Far too close for my beloved weapon to do any real damage, and far too fast to defend.

Scythes were tricky like that. If they were too far, the dull part of the scythe would strike them, to close and they would be hit by the pole. They were similar to spears in that manner, there was always that golden sweet spot. A sweet spot that made it that much harder for people to fight with.

Which was why, usually, the scythe was paired with something that could do more at a closer range. Like her Uncle Qrows sword that transformed into a scythe, to make up for it.

But I always just preferred to use a scythe, and that my sword play wasn't as great warrant it. After all, my Semblance was usually enough to get me in the right moment.

Case in point, as I transformed to dodge the coming strike and reformed above his head. Another bullet already in the chamber. Something that launched me downwards to the exposed Venatores.

Right as he disappeared again, the slash forced the mist to spread away. Shortly appearing a small distance away, as the bright light continued to shine from his blade. Just as he spun, I fired my Crescent Rose again, bringing me back to the ground.

Just as the many trees in the area began to fall for no reason. Their trunks slashed so cleanly that they would fit together like a puzzle piece.

Something that made me gulp as I wondered what it would do to me. Even with the aura surrounding me it was nothing short of a scary thought.

Clearly, long range was the safer and most effective option. Especially if I let myself open to any strikes that Venatores might give to me.

I quickly pointed my gun at Venatores, forcing the mighty shot to carry me away from him. I traveled a fair distance as the bullet passed through Venatores. His misty form kept moving forward in my direction, a bright glow emanating from it.

Which meant he was ready to slash me at any moment. My gun still trained on him until the very last moment.

Right before I fired again.

Just as he deflected the bullet, the piece of Fire Dust bouncing off to a random tree. The bullet was so powerful that he was forced to spin around.

No…

If he was forced, the blade wouldn't still be glowing. His body twisting so that the strike would come from the left.

I braced my scythe, shifting it to block whatever strike was coming.

Right as he disappeared again, the mist disappeared through me.

Before I could even adjust my defense or use my Semblance the strike came from behind me. The pain spread through my back before disappearing, alongside me, in a flurry of rose petals.

I appeared right to the side of Venatores. My scythe raised above to my side, a quick gunshot sounding out through the woods. My beloved weapon rolling through the air like a lightning bolt.

Just as he disappeared again, this time the mist ran to the side.

I spun around, the scythe already prepared to defend me from his strike. But he had already appeared behind me, evident by another strike to my back.

I turned back around, and he was gone. The trail going through me once again.

This time, I didn't even bother looking, instead taking a chance at a defense. Shifting my beloved weapon in a way that would block most of the strikes he could possibly make.

His weapon then bounced off it, just as I used my Semblance to get behind him. Followed by another gunshot and another swipe.

This time I was the tiniest bit faster, the darkness of his eyes widening before they disappeared into mist. Dodging backwards a fair distance, his breathing the tiniest bit labored, possibly from aura usage.

My breath was the same way, a combination of aura usage and quick movements.

Another emotion appeared aside from the fear, something that I didn't quite expect from this fight.

Annoyance.

He was practically fine, no damage whatsoever. Yet here I was, my aura practically drained from trying to dodge everything he threw at me.

Is this how people felt about fighting me? No wonder Yang didn't want to spar with me anymore.

But I shook my head, turning my attention back to Venatores. Keeping an eye out for whenever he deems to escape.

Just as I noticed something about the mist around him.

What was once a whirlwind of mist surrounding him was becoming a small layer of it. As if a small gust of wind could blow it all away.

He seemed to notice it, glaring at his arm with one eye. As if judging what was going on.

Was he running out of aura? No, he wasn't even hit by Yang, and there was no marking from Weiss.

But my gunshot?

My gaze lowered to his arm, the one that should have been hanging by his side.

Only to realize that it was the one swinging his weapon. The hole still in his armor…

But the wound wasn't there. Like it never even existed in the first place, or somehow disappeared over the one minute after I shot him.

H-how? Did the aura heal him that fast? No… not even aura could heal a gunshot wound that fast.

The only possible explanation was his Semblance, and even that didn't make sense? Wasn't this his Semblance, the misty thing he was doing.

Then something moved, and I flinched forward, my gun already pointed at the only other person in the woods.

But all he did was pull something out of his pouch, his eye focused solely on me. The mist around him practically already gone, as if my thoughts were forcing it to dissipate.

He removed something from his pouch, his hand grasped around it. Covering it from my eyes, something that only fueled my curiosity.

The smart thing would have been to shoot him right then and there.

But then something began to grow out of the palm of his hand.

A red liquid seemed to seep out the sides of his hands, before stopping in mid air. Forming what looked like a stick.

Then it began to change, the liquid slowly freezing. Each second I looked at it, it began to change. The blood red quickly beginning to change into a pale yellow.

It was only when it finished, that I realized what it was. After all, my dog Zwei loved them more than anything.

It was a bone, broken in half and resting in his palm. Left to the ages and filled with scars and dents that made it look like something had indeed chewed on it.

But despite that, I felt my chest tighten. Something I didn't expect, as I've held lots of bones in my hand before.

But none of them were just that size… None of them gave me chills just from looking at them.

What kind of bone was that?

Then his hand grew tighter, cracks began to sound throughout the area, each one making my skin crawl. Everytime his hand grew tighter, more sounds entered the forest.

I was beginning to see cracks on the bone too, dust coming out of its surface through every crack. Each speck of it swirling around his hand, as if it was focused on that one place.

Then it was destroyed, the small bits of bone fading into dust as they tried to desperately reach the ground. Each one continued to gather around his hand…

Then he let it go, the old dust quickly transformed… As the silver mist returned, just as he dashed right towards me. The trail appeared once again, causing me to transform into rose petals out of instinct alone.

But I didn't strike or even shoot my Crescent Rose at him. Instead I went defensively for a second, studying him as he kept disappearing and reappearing.

What was with his Semblance? How could it just stop and then appear again, that wasn't natural at all?

Maybe it was like Yang's? It needed something else to fully do what was needed.

I moved my Scythe, blocking the incoming strike from my back. Following up with a quick twist to the front, intercepting whatever path of the sword I thought was coming. Something that was slowly becoming pure guesswork at this point.

But what could it need?

He pulled something out to summon the bone, and then that red liquid showed up. I had to find out what the liquid was?

… No… I didn't.

I don't need to know how he did it, I need to know how to stop it.

Something that was shown to me a second before.

Wait. Wait for the right moment in which he's unable to use it. Force him to make it so that he couldn't use it.

Which meant staying and fighting him. After all, I couldn't know what I couldn't see.

I should have been afraid of that sentence alone, something that would have made me terrified at the beginning of the mission.

Yet, I was calm. I was thinking about every advantage and disadvantage I could have. I was thinking about where the next strike would come from. I was thinking about everything I needed to, even as I finished this train of thought.

I quickly turned around, my beloved Crescent Rose striking through the mist. Sadly, it was at the wrong time, the sword raised above his left side. I quickly spun my weapon, the shaft blocking that strike with relative ease. Disappearing right through me as he blocked, another strike most likely prepared for me

So long as I kept my focus, I would be okay.

I turned around, ready to defend whatever came at me.

Only to notice the giant tree falling towards me.

I dodged to the side quickly, the tree shaking the ground. Something that caused me to falter in my steps as I did so. Causing me to nearly trip, and fall flat on my face.

I quickly used my semblance, helping me to make sure that I wasn't truly on the ground.

But Venatores saw that coming, seeing as how another dull pain echoed out through my body.

I stopped, looking around the dark forest for any source of light. Knowing that the light would mean that Venatores was there.

Only to see even more trees beginning to fall, each of them converging right on top of me.

But I didn't pay attention to them, instead opting to search for the dimming light of Venatores blade.

I saw it, a little ways behind me. The dimming of the light of his sword.

Which meant that was the way to run, my form shifting into rose petals once again. Dodging each and every falling tree, as if they were the tiniest of obstacles in my way.

Then there he was, standing there at the entrance. His sword glowing like a small star in his hands, waiting for the moment I would come. The mist coming off him at a steady rate, meaning he still had more time.

I transformed out of my Semblance, knowing that whatever I did he would just dodge.

Which meant that he would either go left or right…

I got as close to him as possible, as he suddenly turned to mist. Just as he did I fired my Crescent Rose, quickly forcing me to go left. A strike already on it's way to attack.

But he didn't follow.

I quickly turned, ready to shoot my beloved weapon once again, in hopes of catching him of guard.

Right as a tree fell in front of me, forcing me to cut it away so I didn't impact it. The tree split in half as if it was made of butter, allowing me a narrow escape through it.

To make this situation even worse, I felt the dull pain once again. This time from behind me, as I quickly transformed and dashed behind him.

This time I didn't even bother slashing him, instead loading another bullet into my gun. Aiming as he dissipated into mist, possibly as just a reaction now.

I prepared to fire the last of my bullets inside the chamber of my gun.

Right as he vanished into a tree.

All I could manage was stare at it, right before a bright light shined behind it. The tree quickly began to fall down, just as I was slashed. The dull pain was growing in my arm, as something seemed to leak out.

Something that clearly showed I was running out of aura.

I had to get out of the way.

I moved to the left, not even trying to use my semblance. Just so I could keep whatever was left there in case he came back.

Then he appeared right in front of me, his blade raised to his side.

I quickly turned around, making my way to the other side

Only to find him right there, a trail of mist following him. His blade still raised at his side in waiting.

I quickly turned to rose petals, moving as far from the base of the trunk as I could. Hoping that I could reach the very end.

But he was still there, the strike coming before I could even realize it. The dull pain prominent across my chest, as I was forced back into my regular form.

Fear and panic began rising in my chest, just as I began preparing another quick slash at Venatores.

Only to see his pistol in his hand.

I stopped right where I was, remembering what happened to Yang. My mind quickly filled with horror and anger as well as panic and fear. All of them forced me to stop my blade, as I tried to find another way out.

But so long as he could see it coming, which he most likely could, I was stuck under the tree. Something that made me want to grab and pull my hair despite the circumstances

I have to get through this somehow! I had to get out of the way of the tree!

So did he if he wanted to live.

Was this just some game of chicken!?

My panic was beginning to grow by each second the tree began to fall. Each of its hands clawing at my mind and heart. The panic forced my surroundings to slow to a crawl.

I somehow knew, even just from looking at it, that Ven would stay there till the last moment. Not long enough for me to be killed, just long enough for me to get stuck under it while I was trying to escape.

Something that was bound to happen, considering how determined he was.

No...

I quickly stared at him, the tree already close to his head. His eye quickly switching from me to it, the mist only a thin layer on his skin. Enough time for right until the tree fell on top of the both of us.

He wasn't even trying to dodge the tree, instead he was going to go through it, just like he did before.

But how? How did he go through it…

It was because he transformed into something else.

Think, Ruby think! How was Venatores doing the mist thing, it was like your Semblance with Blakes.

It means he can dodge whatever he wishes, but unlike Blake he didn't disappear. He instead transformed and traveled however he wanted to in what direction, even through some objects.

That part had to come from something...

So if he could...

This was going to suck if I was wrong.

I turned to Venatores, my mind mentally preparing itself as I looked at him and him alone. Waiting for the moment I needed.

Then, he quickly vanished into mist…

Followed by me, in a flurry of rose petals.

I rammed right into the base of the trunk, ready for the impact that was about to come up. The only thought in my mind being that I wanted to avoid it, and not get crushed.

What happened was something far worse.

The first time I had ever really used my semblance, I wanted to throw up. It was like my body was no longer there, just an image in my head of what it should have been. I was just pieces of roses in the wind, each of them following my every movement.

Over time, I had gotten used to it. All I had to do was imagine that my body just became pieces of rose petals, each of them knitted together with my aura.

The thing that I was doing was taking everything that I had learned and destroying it. Which, also, brought back that sickening feeling to my everything.

The bounds that I had knitted between each and every rose petal, became loose. Each one growing looser and looser, so that they can compensate for going through the solid object. I felt what should have been my body splitting itself into two.

It was like I was going through a pillar, and was able to see another half of me. I could feel it moving, its sensations, everything about it. Like, if my arm was removed but I could somehow move it from across the room. Or be able to look into my other eye and watch it blink. Or able to reach across a small room and be able to touch the other hand that was reaching out.

It was weird and sickening.

You just became two perfect halves, going around the pillar.

That was what it felt like.

Then it stopped, as they reunited.

It was only then I realized that I was on the other side.

I quickly landed on the tree trunk, my body reforming to how it was supposed to. Every part of me shivering as if I was in a blizzard. I felt my hands move, grabbing every part of my body as if making sure I was all there. It was only when everything felt in place, did I let out a sigh.

But I couldn't focus on that. Of course not…

Cause Venatores was right there, the bone once again in his hand as he stared at me. His sword at his side in waiting, and gun on his hip.

Welp… it looked like it was back to square one with my Semblance.

I lifted my Crescent Rose up, quickly shootin the bone out of his hand. The bone quickly shot out of his hand, somehow still intact. He quickly turned to where the bone was, right before turning to me.

I shoot forward with my semblance, a flurry of rose petals beginning to surround Venatores. His eye focused on my own form as he did so. The Burial Blade raised at his side to swat at me from in the air.

But I didn't even bother to dodge it.

I took what I learned, my body splitting once again. The weird feeling consuming everything as I dodged his sword blade.

I was to slow however, as something grazed the petals that made up my foot. The dull pain shooting out of it.

But I ignored the pain, instead showing up right in front of him. My scythe raised to strike him down.

It was only when I was close to him, did I realize that his single eye had widened. As if, for the first time in this entire fight, he was actually surprised.

But I ignored it, finishing the slash that I was doing.

Except, it didn't hit his body, I didn't allow it. Because that was the one thing he expected at the moment.

A clang of metal echoed out through the forest, the one thing he needed flying out of his hands and imbedding itself into one of the many fallen trees.

His Burial Blade.

That was when my assault began.

I made certain that before he even realized it, I was gone. I was already above his head, my Crescent Rose locked and loaded. He quickly followed the sound, staring up, his pistol already in his hands.

But then I did it again, this time appearing behind him, before quickly going through him. My form appearing at his back, a gunshot firing out through the woods. My weapon barely scratched his back, the cloth splitting just the tiniest bit.

A groan echoed into my ears, just as Venatores turned back around. His pistol raised to meet me, just as he fired.

I was already gone, appearing at his other side as I passed him like a ghost. I slashed him again, his groan echoing out but louder as my blade went deeper.

For awhile it continued like that, him following me with his eyes, as a storm of rose petals began to surround him. My strikes came from every foreseeable direction, each time he met me with his pistol as I dodged it. Each time, he came out with the tiniest bit of damage.

After a while he didn't even bother with the gun, instead trying to dodge each and everyone of my strikes. Each one barely left a scratch on him as the Hunter kept up with almost all of my moves.

The only movement he really did was reach into his pocket. His eye followed my every move as if it was magnetized to my form.

As if he understood every movement I would take, instinctually.

His hand came out of his pocket, holding something in his palm. Right as he placed them into his mouth, as if he was prepping something.

I wouldn't allow it. I appeared right in front of him, my beloved Crescent Rose primed to strike him. The very edge at the closest part of his chest, a scratch forming at the thick leather.

But just as I did…

He screamed out. The force of the yell throwing me back, my back quickly colliding with a large tree trunk. My breath escaping from me at the moment of impact. Just as I fell to the ground in a cluttered clump.

But that I could handle…

It was the sound. The sound that made me want to curl up in the fetal positions, something I quickly did to cover my ears.

There were multiple sounds, each of them trying to outmatch the other. Their howls and growls filling my ears, my worst fears beginning to crawl out of the depths of my mind. I could feel each of their claws scrape against my skin, as if each of them were trying to make me run. Like it would be so much fun if I could run away, so they could give chase.

I hated wolves… no, I was afraid of them. They were the worst thing that ever happened in the world, the only good thing they brought in the world was dogs and Zwei.

Everything else could just disappear!

I was shivering, I wanted it to stop but I couldn't. The fear in my stomach growing and growing, the fear trying to consume me like a large wolf.

I had to get up, what if it wasn't Venatores? What if it was an actual pack of Beowulfs that had somehow entered the woods. Each of them plotting how to destroy me and Ven, while I sat here like a useless child.

I barely even registered that it stopped, a breath leaving me as it did.

Quickly I tried to get up, the pain in my back shooting up my spine. Looking around with the shallowest breath, the fear slowly dissipated. All that was left was the same battle hardened girl twelve seconds ago.

Just like last time, there weren't a horde of wolves after me. It was just Venatores weird roar thing, just like last time. Something that instantly calmed the swelling panic rising in me.

The only real question was where did he go?

No… that was stupid question.

There was only one place he'd go. The one place he could actually be able to defend himself.

The place that held his sword

No, I shouldn't even go there! This was the chance I needed! This was the real moment to run away, and regain my aura while he was also recovering.

I quickly picked up my scroll, looking at the time. The bright light of the screen almost forced me to shield my eyes.

Great… just another three hours and we will pass this test.

Better leave quickly then, quickly flipping the switch that made Crescent Rose the beautiful rifle that she was. The many gears and shifts that made her up quickly shifting, transforming it into the form I needed.

Just as I was about to pull the trigger, did the pain in my back grow. The adrenaline that my fears brought me subsided, bringing whatever relief I felt with it. I brought in a shallow breath through my teeth, my lungs trying everything in their power to rid me of the breath.

Maybe it was because I was out of aura, or it was the rather hard impact against the tree. All that I really knew, was that everything hurt, and my body didn't want to move.

Something that quickly had to be ignored, as I began my small and awkward shamble away. My eyes darted in every which direction, knowing that my opponent could be anywhere in the woods.

I quickly used my Semblance, hoping that the strange transformation would ease any pain that I felt.

Instead, nothing happened. I remained how I should, other than the stray rose petals that were now floating across the woods.

"Crap." I spoke, the word jumping out of my mouth without permission. At least the adrenaline was returning, making it so I could actually stand up straight.

Alone in the woods, with no one other than Venatores…

I quickly spun around, and kept my eyes and ears sharp. Knowing that the only smart thing to do was to find the rest of my team. Each of them only had the shortest break, but if was better than nothing.

Thankfully my partner was standing on the sidelines during Yang's battle. Smartly trying to regain whatever aura she had lost during her fight with Venatores. Who knows, maybe Yang could become even cooler and fight with a single arm, or Blake might wake up from her battle with Venatores.

If I could find them, we might last as long as possible. Maybe even enough time for me to actually be able to run again.

And, with this new and handy ability I might actually be able to outrun him.

No… Overconfidence right now would be a bad idea. Just look what it did to Yang, as cruel as it may have sounded.

I just had to find them, and point them in the right direction…

Let's hope for some luck, at least.

I turned around, running forward as fast as I could with my injured back. My breaths are short and sloppy, just like my running form. Trying to find the way that I had ran from, hoping to exact my plan.

Only for them to be completely dashed, before I took the first twenty steps.

It wasn't like he magically showed up like he usually did… it was just a feeling. The smallest pinprick right at the base of my neck.

Like something was watching me, and ready to pounce.

I quickly spun around, my rifle already trained. My eyes caught the slight glow of his blade, as I aimed for where the base of his chest would be, quickly firing the bullet.

He merely dodged to the side, turning in a way that even the speed of a bullet couldn't hit him. Quickly rushing towards me in the very same move.

Strangely enough, his weapon wasn't poised to strike as it usually was. Instead it hung limply at his side as he dashed towards me.

Something that only made me think of the possibilities that it had in store. Maybe it was a trick to pull out another weapon, or to distract me from a gun. It could have been anything, so long as I didn't know.

As soon as he got close to me, I fired it off again. This time allowing the force of the blow to carry me away.

Whatever he had planned was stopped by a simple timed gunshot away.

Then a sound entered the forest, like a large rusty gear snapping into place. Like an ancient weapon suddenly clicking into place.

Then, something moved behind me. At first I thought it was Venatores, or at worst a Grimm.

But Ven was still right in front of me. His hand still holding onto the swor-

No… it wasn't a sword anymore. I couldn't even recognize what it was, just from the base alone. Was it a spear? Maybe even a Naginata.

Before I could even understand it, I was pulled forward by my neck. A deep and sharp pain coming from where I was being pulled. Already I could feel the blood begin to trickle down my back and into my clothes.

Despite the pain in my back, panic breaths began to enter my lungs. The impact on the ground didn't lessen it or make it worse, it only remained.

D-did he not realize I was out of aura? I-I had to make him stop.

But none of the words I wanted came out. My breaths were too heavy, and my mind filled with a panic that I had never experienced before. It was like I was drowning in all of these things, making my normally nimble movements sluggish.

I had to tell him to stop. Just focus on that alone and you can stop whatever was coming.

I quickly looked up, the words on the tip of my lips despite the ragged breaths of panic.

But then my breathing stopped…

Oh… so that was why it was called the Burial Blade.

The sword that he had held was placed in a simple holder made of wood. The wood was smooth and a deep brown color, whether by design or simple. The Bladed part placed in a section that looked like a 'Y'. One side keeping it in place, the other balancing out the design.

Despite the panic rising into my system, something about the scythe just couldn't be helped but admired. The base and handle of the scythe reminding me of my Uncles. Slightly curved so that there was less of a chance for the blade to hit him.

It was definitely bigger than mine, at least an extra foot taller. Something that gave him more reach and power through the weapon.

Even the large dent finally began to make sense. A perfect shape for holding onto blades from a distance.

As well as the necks of his opponents.

Other than that, it looked ancient. The wrappings that adjourned each part where Venatores might grab was frayed and ragged. It was practically a miracle that they were still on the smooth wood of the scythe.

The only thing keeping the blade on it was a simple locking mechanism. Something that looked both flimsy and yet sturdy all at the same time.

It was rushed, it looked practically unfinished. Like it could use repairs at every single point that it hit someone.

Yet it somehow made it look beautiful.

Even while it descended to disembowel me.

My panic was no longer there… despite how strange it sounded I was calm. Everything around me was moving slower and slower. The fear and panic that I felt previously in the back of my mind, as far away from the situation as possible.

It wasn't gone, just dulled.

I was bleeding, out of aura, and currently helpless on the ground. I was supposed to be panicked, pleading, or maybe even seeing my life flash before my eyes. I was supposed to be telling him to stop.

But another part of me said something else… Something that I didn't expect from my own self.

Make him stop.

I felt the trigger of my Crescent Rose click, just as I loaded another bullet into it's chamber. A thing that was practically instinct, as I barely realized I did it. The force of the bullet lifting me towards Venatores Luna.

Instead of the Burial Blade eviscerating me, I felt a dull pain on the side of my head. The wood from the handle of Venatores scythe bouncing off my skull.

Maybe it was bleeding, maybe it wasn't. All I knew was that the pain slowly disappeared.

Right as I plowed into him with all the force I had. My elbow sticking out, striking him in his stomach first, and sending him flying through the air. He landed with the usual grace he had, a hand over his stomach.

He continued to look at me, the eye of his telling me a simple phrase through a strained look. His dark eye glowing for the smallest second, like a tiny star.

That 'No matter how hard I tried, I wasn't leaving this area.'

I should have been scared… it should have terrified me.

I twirled my Crescent Rose in hand, the large scythe even lighter in my hands. The head of the weapon impacted the dirt slightly as I held it behind my back.

What it said was obvious and to the point.

I've been around Scythes for as long as I could remember. Everyday of my life as a Huntress in training, since the young age of eight, I fought one of the best Scythe users in the World of Remnant. Each time we fought, I had asked him to only use his scythe, something he readily agreed to each time.

I've never won against him… not once in my life. But I've fought him, each time learning from the greatest Scythe master alive.

As cocky as it may have sounded.

I knew what I was doing.

RWBY Red like Roses Part 2: [Dual Mix]

I fired off another shot, this one quickly launching me forward again. My Scythe was already prepared before I reached him.

But he was prepared to, quickly spinning the scythe through the air. The bladed end coming out of nowhere and striking mine to the side. My Crescent Rose impacted the ground beside him.

He spun the handle around, the blade flipping as he momentarily let go of the handle to make a better hold. The blade flipping around so he could thrust it into me, as it made its way to my exposed body.

I ducked under it, able to see the reflection of myself in the blade. I shifted the way I held my scythe, turning my back to Ven for the barest second as I lifted the blade from the dirt. Flecks of dirt launching from the ground.

I turned around, our blades meeting at the very center. Each one locking the other in place, as if waiting for one of us to lift or turn the blade.

Something that was very easy for me to win, as I just had to pull a trigger. The sharp sound of metal striking metal ripping through the air, alongside the gunshot of my rifle.

He was quickly brought closer to me, the pulling putting him in just the right area. Spinning my Scythe again so that it would come down on top of him.

Right as he spun, putting himself in the same area. The blade came to my side as quick as the strike that I had prepped. Each one bouncing off the other, mine to the side and him towards the air.

But each parry was nothing but another opportunity. Quickly spinning mine in the direction that it was deflected, a simple gunshot speeding up the process.

His scythe was much bigger than mine, both in the handle and the blade, something that gave him a large advantage. Mostly in range and power, as well as some versatility.

However, mine was shorter. It meant it was easier to handle, easier to switch and turn in the right way. Something that increased the speed of my strikes as my blade twisted through the air.

Something that was quickly disproven, as my opponent's blade came from the bottom of my vision. Sending my strike to the side flying upwards, as he reached one of his hands closer to the bladed end.

The strike came like lightning, just as I took a step back. A small pain crossing my arm at the tiny little scratch that came from the sharpened blade. Something that was quickly ushered away by whatever was fueling my movements at the moment.

I shot my gun again, sending me in right after my small dodge. Despite the small change in stance, the blade came down towards his chest.

He moved forwards, the blade missing him as he was about to be struck by the hard metal base of Crescent Rose. Right before he kneeled the tiniest bit the handle barely passing over his head.

Only for my scythe to make contact with the Burial Blade, something that made his own scythe spin around his wrist. Catching it quickly, in the most perfect way possible, the blade ready to strike me within a second.

It was honestly one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

A thing that I quickly ruined, making my way forward. Turning the scythe to a regular position as I shot once again. The gunshot put all the force needed as I launched forward, my Crescent Rose scratching against something. As I quickly turned back around, already prepping another strike.

He was doing the same, the scythe head falling downwards towards me. The smallest amount of blood coming out of his side.

Despite the current situation, I paused at the sight of the blood. The entirety of my mind telling me to stop and surrender. After all, if Ven wasn't just as good as me, he would have been bisected from the large blade.

The part I listened to, was the instinct to move backwards as quickly as I could. The short pause giving Ven's blade the needed amount of time to come down. The dual sided blade of his cutting into my shoulder like a claw. The blade piercing the earth, as if a small explosion happened underneath it.

He quickly turned it around his body, preparing another downward strike…

This time, with a bright glow at the end of it. This one, brighter than any other that happened in this entire fight.

I quickly loaded my gun, launching to the side as he made the swing. I quickly loaded it again, about to fire another one so that I could make my way behind him.

Just as the strike came down, followed quickly by controlled chaos. The dirt quickly became jagged and twisted like an unfinished blade, as if it exploded from the inside around him.

Then, in a straight line, the world continued to make them. As if multiple of the same effect happened for at least twenty feet. The area looked less like a forest and more like an open maw of a monster.

I gulped, the panic in me growing for the quickest second. A thing that practically forced me to fire my gun, just to send me flying backwards.

I knew it was a mistake before I even hit the ground.

Which was the exact moment he turned, the blade continuing to glow like a small star at the end of his scythe. The blade rising diagonally towards me, something that made my body feel like it went through a snow storm.

I quickly dodged to the side, right where the strike was coming from. Once again firing my gun, to make it before the strike eviscerated me.

I knew I had dodged it the moment a heavy gust passed by me, practically making my cloak pull me back. At least the earth was still intact, the only real sign that something passed by was the rustling leaves.

As well as the carved piece of earth right at his side.

Yet, just as I feared, the blade kept glowing.

Which only meant he wasn't done. Forcing me to create a plan as fast as I could possibly manage.

The simple solution would be to rush him, firing another shot to get to him as quickly as possible. But I would rather not rush to my death, in case I was too slow. Something that was weird to admit, seeing my usual track record.

The other was to fight from this distance, using my rifle as a means to fight him. While it was effective, it left me standing still and aiming, something that would leave me dead in an instant.

The third one was to methodically make it there, while also dodging every single strike he gave. Something that would become more dangerous the closer I got to him, and depending on how long I take.

The final one, was both simple and complicated at the same time. Still likely to get me killed, while also allowing me to do damage.

Which was the one I chose, just as his Scythe came up. The blast fully ready to attack me, within all its power. The strike a little to my left, and rising fast as flecks of dirt and a cold breeze followed it.

That plan was simply titled, 'All of the Above'.

I quickly dodged to the left, firing off a shot that forced me diagonally toward him. Quickly running to that area, while I turned my gun to him.

I barely even aimed as I shot at him, each bullet making its way to his chest with shocking accuracy. As if each one was designed to shoot him and him alone.

But he dodged nearly all of them, as he rolled to his left. Something that made me fire another shot towards his lowered self.

Right as the Scythe came around his back, slicing the bullet from the air with a perfect precision. The force of the swing was so powerful that his weapon quickly went far behind his back, to the point where he wouldn't be able to grab it.

I quickly fired my scythe behind me, rushing him with all the speed I had.

Right as the damn thing began to glow.

But why, it wasn't like he could grab it? How was he going to attack me?

My brain filled with questions, each of them being pushed to the side. As I just began to quickly analyze anything that might help…

Only to see the scythe begin to practically twist in midair. The handle impacting that one thing I didn't expect to hit, rotating around it to strike.

His neck.

It twisted in the perfect way to, almost coming too fast. The blade so close to his neck that I was shocked it wasn't chopped off. It should have been one of the most ineffective things in the world.

But, because of the strange glow, it became as deadly as anyone of his strikes. Coming towards me faster than his other ones.

I barely had a second to think, the horizontal direction of the blade going to stop any type of movement I had. If I fell down, I would be too slow. If I dodged with it, I might have a chance, but the angle would force me to the ground with ease. Something that he could capitalize on, and finish me off.

So there was only one other option…

I quickly shot my Scythe from below me, the force shooting me into the air. The wave of his slice passing from under me, as I merely raised my own. Bringing my Scythe to it's apex, loading my shot.

Somehow, in some strange way, as I loaded the shot, I knew it was the last one.

Perhaps it had something to do with the hollow sound it made, or the fear still in my heart. Maybe it was just pure instinct, or something else entirely.

But this was the single shot that had to beat him.

Just as he looked up, his eye probably wide with surprise and shock, I fired my gun. The force of the gun and the gravity of the world brought me down like a comet. Before I even realized it, I was right next to him. The handle of his Burial Blade ready to block my strike.

But he still moved his body, probably because he knew the greatest thing about Scythes.

They were meant to pierce any form of blocking. Case in point, as handle hit handle, my blade digging into his right shoulder. Not deep enough to do any real damage, but enough to make it noticeable.

Enough to make my stomach squeeze and churn, waiting to throw up from even looking at the blood. The coppery smell filling my nose despite the distance and forcing me to gag.

But I ignored it, turning the blade so that it would catch around his neck. Something that my Uncle used to do every time he fought me. As it was the clear sign when a Scythe wielder won a fight.

I was about to tell him that...

Right as I watched the handle of the Burial Blade collapse around my Crescent Rose. Caging my beautiful creation within it's wood. The blade popping out as the counterbalance of the scythe struck the locking mechanism.

My crescent Rose moved without my consent, my grip loose from the shock of the Burial Blades collapse.

That single second was all that was needed, as he spun around. The scythe launching out of my hands, leaving me with an empty feeling.

The empty feeling, that panic and fear instantly consumed. Something cold, sharp and metallic at the side of my neck.

"Your relic."

I looked at him, not even moving my body in the slightest. My eyes trying to see into anything that might have helped me win.

But all I saw was a gauze covered eye. The bandages wrapped so tight and thick that I couldn't even see past it. Each strand covered a large part of the right side of his face, from the side of his nose all the way to his forehead.

It was done in such a way that you'd barely notice, his hair falling over it and making it disappear.

I wanted to move, maybe retrieve one of my Dust Bullets to use as a small knife. They were large enough to make some form of sense.

Just as I began to reach for it, the Burial Blade grew closer, drawing the tiniest amount of blood.

"If you won't," He spoke up, his voice close yet surprisingly far. As if he was whispering into my ear at blade length. Something that made more fear enter me, trying to find any way to escape it. "I will."

I didn't speak, trying to keep still. My mind running a mile a minute to find the one way to win this.

But all it did was come up empty. An emptiness that forced me to reach for the relic that I had, the one that I kept it in.

Right as I touched the only thing that could help me win.

"You're the only one who can keep these safe."

I had Yang's relic… The only thing he didn't know I had. I had one decoy, and the one that would end the test.

So long as he didn't know I had it, he'd think Yang would.

That meant while he searched for her, I would have that amount of time to run. Maybe even restore my aura a bit more…

All that I needed to be was lucky.

Something that increased every fear that I had… Knowing that now I really did have the fate of my team in my hands. All it required was the simplest choice, between one of them. A completely random choice.

I could already feel my hands shaking, right as I pulled one out. The cloth jumbled and crinkled to the point where I couldn't even tell what it was.

The moment I realized what the relic was, I quickly ran to the library. I picked up three different knight pieces, all of which were the same yet different from our actual relic.

So long as he didn't pull the gold one, we were still in.

I didn't even know which one I pulled, or the moment where it was taken out of hand. Venatores suddenly in my face, looking at me with his single eye somehow drilling into my everything. As if he was trying to read my mind with his intense glare.

But I tried to keep the calmest face I could. My eyes keeping their attention on the one eye in front of me, trying not to move away from it. Taking the chance to try and reach for one of my bullets once again, hoping that he would be too focused on me.

The blade got even closer, his eye barely moving from my own. His hand slowly moved the cloth away from the relic.

Only for a sound to interrupt everything. Something that made me jump, despite the blade at my throat. Even Venatores' eye widened, turning towards his pocket as quickly as he could.

But he just turned back to me, the blade closer to my neck.

"Your scroll." He spoke, his eye softening just the tiniest bit. Something that still made him look like the scariest person alive.

I quickly took it out, facing it towards him without a second thought. Putting it lower so that I could see who it was, hoping that it might've been one of my teammates.

Only for it to fill with dread at the name on it.

The headmaster of our school.

He quickly swiped at the screen, the Burial Blade still at my throat and the Relic in his hands. Maybe it was just him contacting us, telling us that the area of the test would be getting smaller. O-or that maybe Venatores cheated, or had gone too far in this fight.

But it was reality that won in the end.

"The test is over…" Our headmaster spoke up, his voice monotone despite the soul crushing message he was giving to us. "Please make your way to the designated point."

I barely even noticed that the Burial Blade came off my neck. I was just on the ground, still trying to process the message.

This couldn't be it right? This couldn't have just been the end of the test. T-that didn't make sense…

I remembered everyone of my teammates, not the full healthy people, but the broken people he made them.

Blake on the floor, unconscious from some kind of burns. My worry for her, still there even after our argument.

Weiss', the clean pampered princess, as my sister called her, looking dirty and unkept. The only thing worse on her, was the defeated look on her face, that I saw from my scope.

My sister's broken arm, something that was only matched by a broken will. Looking sad and defeated, something that never happened.

And here I was, on the ground. Wounds on me, and failing because of luck alone.

It was maddening to say the least…

I wanted to blame anyone in this forest… Blake, for treating this as some form of game, when it was all our futures on the line. Yang, for only encouraging her teammate. Maybe even Weiss, for not helping me out enough.

But I let Blake decide what to do, even against my better judgment. Understanding that, despite it being the right thing, it was still too sensitive a time to tell her she was wrong.

Yang just wanted everything to go back to the way it was, maybe even lift the unseen burden from my shoulders.

And Weiss was trying her hardest.

All I did was take a chance, and not continue to fight. Putting what I said in practice, and relying more on luck than skill.

It was stupid and childsih to think about, to be so sad and angry. Especially since it was only a test, one designed to simulate something we would encounter in the future. Made so that we wouldn't make the same mistakes.

Yet, it was the first real time that I had the chance to be a leader.

And I failed.

Just as I thought that, a sharp pain entered my forehead. My hand instinctively makes its way to my head, ready to call out in annoyance at Yang.

But Yang wasn't here…

Only Venatores, his hand in front of my face.

I quickly got up, reaching behind my back for my Scythe. My hands grasping empty air, as I looked around to find my Crescent Rose.

Only for it to be presented to me, by the one I was afraid of.

I looked up at him…

And I saw someone else.

It wasn't really someone else… He had the same gauze over his eye, he had the same bluish silver hair. He even still had that frown on his face, but not as tight as the other times.

But he just seemed so… different. So… Unlike himself..

I reached out for it, taking it out of his grasps. My eyes and attention fully on Venatores, as I returned Crescent Rose to her resting form. After such a long night, the weapon finally deserved a little break.

"Know that you fought well." He spoke, his arms crossing over his chest. His voice losing the edge that it always seemed to have. Looking at me with his one eye, an eye that seemed clearer than usual. "And understand the mistakes you made.

"Most of which were something not in your control." He spoke, a knowing look in his eye. Something that made me realize that he was watching us this whole time, like a… well, like what he was.

But, the failure slowly faded from my mind. The anger and the sadness along with it, as he kept speaking more and more.

"You lack experience…" He continued, something that gave me the slightest jab in my heart, despite the light tone. "Something that hasn't yet been given to you."

"Yet, it appears you hold a certain promise…"

I felt a small jolt in my body… It wasn't shocking or anything like that. It was something that Uncle Qrow told me when he began training me. That I had a promise that he hadn't seen before.

But, this one was coming from Venatores… As stupid as it sounded, even after what he did to my sister, I felt the pride within me swell.

I quickly turned away, my hand scratching the back of my head. Strangely hoping that he didn't see the large grin as spreading across my face.

"It's nothing great, just yet," He spoke, destroying whatever I got from that small compliment from him. My hand dropped to my side in another form of defeat. "But it is enough for me to see."

"On this night..." He continued, my attention turning to him once more. Looking at his eye with an intensity I didn't have before, the eye practically glowing with a hypnotic light. But it wasn't on me.

I looked down, seeing that he was fiddling with something on his red scarf. Something that was blocked from my vision, due to the height he had on me, as he continued to look at it.

Just as the light began to fade from his eyes, the briefest moment of sadness entering them.

Right as they grew dark and cold once again. The bright eyes merely a ghost of what they were, and could have been.

"You've reminded me of someone." He spoke, his tone the same one despite the change in his eyes. Quickly turning and opening his scroll…

Right before he said something, that practically made my jaw drop. Filling the cold night with a warmth I didn't expect. Something that I never thought I'd hear from anyone but a teacher.

"I'll be expecting more from you, Ruby Rose."

And then he left… leaving me alone to my thoughts in the woods. The thoughts of defeat and embarrassment, as well as anger leaving my mind as I watched him leave…